The sudden appearance of the three people stunned everyone except Zhang Zhong, especially the deputy county magistrate and the registrar. They looked at the situation in front of them and looked at each other. From each other's eyes, they knew that this matter was not arranged by them.
Pockmarked Zhang was also stunned. He knew what had happened to this corpse. It was dug out from another grave and dragged here. Did someone really come here to identify him? Then he would be exposed directly. He dared to lie about the case and let the county magistrate's son pass out on the way here. He had not woken up until now.
Wouldn't the county magistrate peel off his skin? What should he do? What should he do?
The more Pockmarked Zhang thought about it, the more scared he was. He stopped crying and turned to look at the deputy county magistrate.
At this time, the deputy county magistrate was also nervous. He was afraid that one of the three people was really a relative of the deceased. Would Pockmarked Zhang tell the truth about him? At that time, Zhang Zhong would send a booklet to the county magistrate and he would be finished. He also looked at Pockmarked Zhang.
When they looked at each other, they saw the panic in each other's eyes. The deputy county magistrate signaled Pockmarked Zhang with his eyes and shook his head. He meant to tell Pockmarked Zhang that he could not tell the truth about him no matter what.
Pockmarked Zhang opened his mouth slightly. He looked at the corpses on the ground, then looked at the three crying people over there. He raised his head and looked at the county magistrate who was sneering at him. With a thump, he piled up on the ground.
At this time, Chui Zuo started to do something. He went to check the corpse one by one and stood up. He did not look at the deputy county magistrate and the registrar. He knew that the money was probably given by these two people or one of them. Therefore, he only said to Zhang Zhong,
"My Lord, I've finished my investigation. The wounds on the victim's body were inflicted a few days after he died. There was no thick blood flowing out at all. It was all blood from his body. There was also a hole in his clothes. It was made with the same knife. There was a gap on the knife.
Since Pockmarked Zhang said that several people besieged him, it was impossible that there was only the same knife. Besides the knife wound, there were no other wounds. I have finished. "
When Zhang Zhong heard this, he didn't say anything. He just nodded and looked at Pockmarked Zhang. He just stared at him, unblinking.
Zhang Mazi's eyes were filled with fear. He looked at the county magistrate and then at the county deputy. He couldn't say a word.
"Zhang Mazi, how dare you make a false report? I think you don't want to live anymore." The deputy district magistrate couldn't hold it in anymore. He glared at Zhang Zhuo fiercely and rushed towards Zhang Zhuo. He kicked him and shouted at the same time.
"County Deputy Xiao, what do you mean by this? This official hasn't even said anything yet and you're already acting on this official's behalf? "Zhang Zhong watched from the side and didn't stop him. He simply said a few words.
County Deputy Xiao deliberately turned his back to Zhang Zhong and kicked Zhang Mazi while blinking his eyes. Zhang Mazi used both of his hands to block back and forth. Suddenly, he couldn't stand it anymore. He grabbed County Deputy Xiao's leg and flipped him over.
Pockmarked Zhang rolled and crawled to the front of Zhang Zhong. He said to Zhang Zhong, "Sir, County Magistrate, I know my mistake. I deliberately went to the yamen to report to the officials and deceived you. But I had no choice. I had committed some small crimes and should have been locked up. But I was released after I gave them some money.
Sir, two days ago, County Deputy Xiao found me and asked me to do this. Otherwise, he said that he would continue to lock me up. I had no choice. Sir, please have mercy on me. I know my mistake. "
Pockmarked Zhang Mazi was ready to risk everything this time. Even if he took the blame, he didn't believe that County Deputy Xiao would help him. He told the truth with the thought that if he couldn't get out of this, County Deputy Xiao wouldn't help him.
"Nonsense." Zhang Zhong, County Deputy Xiao and the Registrar Official shouted at the same time. It was still acceptable for County Deputy Xiao and the Registrar Official to shout, but Zhang Zhong also shouted, so the two people didn't know what to say.
Zhang Zhong gave County Deputy Xiao a reassuring look. Then he said to Pockmarked Zhang, "Wicked person, you not only deceived us to come here, but also dared to frame County Deputy Xiao. Where are the yamen runners?"
"Here." Several yamen runners ran over.
"Come on, tie Pockmarked Zhang up. We'll punish him when we go back." Zhang Zhong shouted. Several yamen runners took out ropes and started to tie Pockmarked Zhang Mazi up.
Pockmarked Zhang Mazi naturally didn't want to be tied up. He struggled while telling County Deputy Xiao how to arrange this, which made County Deputy Xiao panic. Fortunately, when he looked at Zhang Zhong, he found that Zhang Zhong was calm all the time. It seemed that he didn't believe what Pockmarked Zhang Mazi said.
Zhang Zhong obviously knew what was going on. If he wanted to get County Deputy Xiao involved, it was very easy. He just needed to send Pockmarked Zhang to the capital together with him. There would naturally be a way to find out the truth. But he couldn't do that now. He had to make use of the Registrar Official and County Deputy Xiao.
Pockmarked Zhang Mazi struggled for a while, but he still couldn't get rid of those yamen runners. Finally, he was tied up and his mouth was stuffed, which made County Deputy Xiao feel much better.
"Lord Zhang, since you know that Pockmarked Zhang Mazi is lying, should we go back?" County Deputy Xiao didn't want to stay here any longer. It was more important to go back and lock up Pockmarked Zhang Mazi.
But Zhang Zhong didn't want to go back now. Gouzi Tian from Elm Village hadn't come yet. He had to know why County Deputy Xiao and the Registrar Official wanted him to go there. What exactly was there?
After hearing County Deputy Xiao's words, he said, "Don't be in a hurry. There are three people here to identify the body. Let them identify it carefully. You three come here and see if it's your relatives."
The three people originally came here to help. They were the people who did odd jobs behind Jinlai Restaurant. At this time, when they heard the master's words, they understood that he wanted them to stall for time. The woman came close first and looked carefully. Then she walked slowly around the body. She didn't say anything until she felt that it was enough. Then she shook her head.
"Sir, this is not my father. I came to the wrong place. I'll go back now. Sir, I won't be arrested, will I?"
"Of course not. You didn't report it to the officials. You just came here to take a look. Then go back. Next one." How could Zhang Zhong punish his own people? He called the old man over there.
The old man also came over to take a look. Then he looked at the road where they came from. Seeing a figure running towards here, he said to Zhang Zhong, "He's not my cousin either. Sir, I'll go back too."
The other guy was more straightforward, "I just saw that my father doesn't look like this. Maybe he has already gone home. I'll go too."
At this time, the person who was running towards them had also arrived in front of them. This young man was very sturdy, more than six feet tall. According to Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan, he was more than 1.8 meters tall.
This guy ran to the place, looked at the people around and asked, "Who is the county magistrate? I'm here."
"You are Gouzi Tian?" As soon as Zhang Zhong saw this young man, he felt happy. This young man's name was not very pleasant to hear, but he looked upright and honest. Moreover, he gave off a simple and honest feeling.
"Sir, I am. I didn't kill anyone. I've been staying at home. The house over there is going to collapse again. I have to fix it." Gouzi Tian said honestly.
"I know you didn't kill anyone. You were framed by someone. This person is called Zhang Da Mazi. He said you brought people here to kill people. Do you have a grudge against him?" Zhang Zhong pointed at Zhang Da Mazi and asked Gouzi Tian.
Gouzi Tian looked at Zhang Da Mazi carefully and shook his head, "I don't know him. How can I have a grudge against him? Why does he want to frame me? "
At this time, the gag in Zhang Da Mazi's mouth was taken out. He took a deep breath and immediately said, "It's not me. I didn't frame you. It's County Magistrate Xiao. He asked me to say so. Gouzi Tian, if you want to find someone, go to County Magistrate Xiao."
When Gouzi Tian heard this, he looked at County Magistrate Xiao. County Magistrate Xiao took two steps back and said, "I didn't say it. It's not me. It's him. It's Zhang Da Mazi. I didn't go to your place to collect taxes. It's exempted. It's already exempted."
Zhang Zhong watched from the side and understood some things. Perhaps county magistrate Wen and the others had gone to Elm Village to collect more taxes. Since they did not want to pay, they did not seem to dare to use force. That was why they wanted to send him over. When the time came, not only could they capture Gouzi Tian, but they could also mention the matter of collecting taxes.
At that time, the people they couldn't deal with would be handed over to him. It didn't matter whether he could deal with them or not. After this, he wouldn't be able to do anything else.
Zhang Zhong wanted to know about the matter in Elm Village, but he wouldn't ask now. He said to Gouzi Tian, "I'll go back and investigate this matter. You go back with me now. I have something to ask you."
"Sir, you didn't wrong me. You're a good official. I'll go with you." Gouzi Tian glared at the Registrar Official and County Magistrate Xiao. Then he followed behind Zhang Zhong and went down.
Zhang Zhong deliberately yawned again. When the Registrar Official and County Magistrate Xiao saw it, they felt better. They planned to continue to make trouble and not let Zhang Zhong have a good rest.
Zhang Zhong brought Gouzi Tian to the side of the carriage. Thinking that his son was still pretending to be sick, he said to Gouzi Tian, "My son fell when he came here. When we go in later, you will sit beside me."
After saying this, he opened the carriage door. Zhang Xiaobao was already lying there. His head was resting on Wang Juan's lap. He was motionless.
Gouzi Tian glanced at Zhang Xiaobao and sat beside Zhang Zhong obediently. Fortunately, the carriage was high enough. Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to sit down.
"Gouzi Tian, how are the days in Elm Village?" Zhang Zhong wanted to understand the situation there, so he started to ask about it.
Gouzi Tian shook his head. "Sir, it's not good at all. As long as it rains, there will be black water rushing into the fields. There isn't much food growing in the fields. Sir, look, there's a lot of black mud on my shoes."
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