Chapter 287

Su Xuntian led a team of constables and rushed to Hu Qifeng's residence with a ticket personally signed by Magistrate Hua. Unexpectedly, there was no one there. Hu Qifeng lived in Gourd County for most of the year, so he bought a house here and a concubine. When Su Xuntian arrived, he found that everyone was there except for Hu Qifeng, the master of the Hu Clan. He had already escaped after hearing the news.

When Magistrate Hua learned that Hu Qifeng had escaped, he couldn't help but feel regretful. If he could capture Hu Qifeng, it would be the perfect ending. Magistrate Hua immediately ordered his men to issue a wanted poster. At the same time, he sent a letter to Tongren Province, reporting the process and results of the case. At the same time, he urged Tongren Province to send people to the Great Mountains Bureau to detain the relevant personnel.

In the Magistrate's office, Zhao Wenyuan saw Hua Yunfei rushing to report to Ye Xiaotian that they had obtained a large amount of Chu's goods from the back mountain of the Chang Clan's carriage company. His last trace of hope was completely shattered. Thinking about how he had been toyed with by Chang Zizai all this time, Zhao Wenyuan was furious.

Zhao Wenyuan said to Ye Xiaotian, "Magistrate, I have a presumptuous request."

"Brother Zhao, please speak!" Ye Xiaotian said.

Zhao Wenyuan gritted his teeth and said, "I want to see Chang Zizai. I hope Magistrate can make this convenient for me!"

Ye Xiaotian asked with a smile that wasn't a smile, "Brother Zhao, what do you want to see him for? Do you want to beat him up or scold him? "

Zhao Wenyuan gritted his teeth and didn't say anything. Ye Xiaotian shook his head and said, "Brother Zhao, you can't be thinking of killing him, right? This person is already dead. Brother Zhao, why do you want to let him off easy and make things difficult for us? In my opinion, Brother Zhao, the most important thing right now is not to see that despicable Chang Zizai. "

Zhao Wenyuan blushed, "What other important thing do I have right now?"

"Of course there is!" Ye Xiaotian said. Chang Zizai and a few of the stewards of the carriage company have been arrested. Chang Clan's carriage company has lost its backbone and is about to collapse. Since Brother Zhao has a share in the company, don't you care at all? Can't Brother Zhao find a few obedient people to replace Chang Zizai when he is disobedient? "

Zhao Wenyuan was suddenly enlightened. He slapped his forehead and said, "Magistrate, you are right. I was confused. I will go back now." Zhao Wenyuan hurriedly took two steps forward, then turned around and stood still. He cupped his hands towards Ye Xiaotian and said shamefully, "I have offended you today. I will hold a feast to apologize to the district magistrate another day!"

Ye Xiaotian stared at Zhao Wenyuan's departing figure as his eyes flickered slightly, as if he was thinking about something incomprehensible. Usually, when he revealed such a look, it meant that he was plotting something. Unfortunately, not many people understood this habit of his.

As soon as Zhao Wenyuan left, Ma Hui, Xu Haoran, and the others who had been waiting at the side immediately swarmed up to Ye Xiaotian. "Second Master is wise! This case has been solved beautifully!"

Ye Xiaotian smiled and said, "It's a pity that Hu Qifeng left in the end. Even though the arrest last night caused a huge uproar, he shouldn't have been able to determine who was arrested so quickly and for what crime. However, he had escaped long ago and was actually so vigilant. Also, we haven't found the source of this forbidden item. "

Ma Hui said, "Sigh! Second Master, I'm afraid that this case not only involves the entire relay route but also all the provinces in the north and south. It's not something that our Gourd County can handle. But in Gourd County, to be able to dig out these scourges and reveal the truth to the world is a great feat. The imperial court will definitely reward us. "

"Clap, clap, clap!"

A rhythmic applause came from the door. Register Wang's voice came from outside. "Yes! In the past, there was the merit of suppressing bandits, the merit of draining the drought, and now there is the merit of protecting the road and removing the bandits, as well as the merit of eradicating the corrupt. Each and every one of these deeds will be recorded in Lord Ye's examination book. In the future, they will all be the capital for Lord Ye's promotion. "

Registrar Wang said as he walked in. He said with admiration, "If it weren't for your short time as a County Magistrate and your lack of experience, it would be natural for you to be promoted immediately." Ye Xiaotian said in surprise. "Registrar Wang?"

Ma Hui and the others were also surprised. Register Wang had never been on good terms with Magistrate Ye. Why would he come to congratulate him today? If he was mocking Magistrate Ye, his sincere expression showed that he admired him from the bottom of his heart. It didn't seem like he was mocking him. What was he doing? Didn't he understand that his words were equivalent to lowering his head to Magistrate Ye?

"Ah! Register Wang, what a rare guest! Please take a seat. "Ye Xiaotian quickly hid his astonished expression and invited Register Wang to take a seat. Ma Hui and the others took the opportunity to leave the room. The manservant also knew how to read people's expressions. He quickly served them a cup of hot tea and quietly left the room.

Ye Xiaotian sat opposite Register Wang and smiled at Register Wang. "Lord Wang, what brings you here today?"

Register Wang let out a long sigh and said sadly, "This old man … is really getting old!"

Ye Xiaotian raised his eyebrows in surprise. Register Wang smiled bitterly. "All along, I've been disapproving of you, Lord Ye. I'm even … a little hostile towards you. I can't stand your style of doing things. I can't stand the fact that you've climbed higher than me at such a young age.

I've always felt that if I put my heart into it, I could do it as well, or even better than you. I've always felt that you're a little deviant and will turn the Gourd County into a mess sooner or later, even implicating me. That's why I've always been going against you, always wanting to undermine you … "

Ye Xiaotian didn't expect that Register Wang would take the liberty to say such words to him. Those who respect others will be respected. Ye Xiaotian couldn't help but be moved. He quickly said politely, "Register Wang, you're too polite. You're my senior, and I'm just a junior. I'm just a brat who has a sense of adventure. I'm far inferior to you when it comes to strategy and steadiness. "

Register Wang smiled. "It's not like you to be so humble. If I wasn't arrogant, would I still be Ye Xiaotian? Haha, but you're arrogant. You really have the ability to be arrogant. This old man finally understands that your ambitions aren't limited to a small Gourd County. I'm just a sparrow, but I'm actually afraid of being occupied by a roc. Isn't that laughable?! "

Ye Xiaotian said, "Register Wang, your praise really makes me feel ashamed."

Register Wang shook his head and patted his chest twice. He sincerely said, "Lord Ye, these are words from the bottom of this old man's heart. Just based on how you uprooted the smuggler who's been hiding in the county for so many years, this old man is convinced. I can't think of such a method, and even if I could, I wouldn't have the guts to do it! I'm just an old official, overcautious and indecisive. There's really nothing for me to compete with you. "

Register Wang stood up and cupped his hands at Ye Xiaotian. Then, he staggered away. As soon as Register Wang left, Ma Hui, Xu Haoran, and the others sneakily snuck in and asked, "Second Master, what's that old man doing here? Could it be that he's jealous of Second Master's great merit and wants to provoke you again?"

Ye Xiaotian coughed and said with a straight face, "Do you all have nothing better to do? Go, go, go, go! Do what you need to do! "

… …

The smuggling case that had been hidden in the depths of Gourd County for many years, involving the tax department, horse and carriage companies, merchants, and even other counties, had been uncovered by Ye Xiaotian. The aftermath of this case was full of ups and downs, and it took a long time for it to calm down.

After Sun Rui and Shi Jin's mouths were pried open, with their testimonies and a large amount of evidence seized, Chang Zizai and his subordinates could no longer deny it. The accountant of the tax department and a few minor officials also succumbed.

Following their confessions, many more people were arrested in Gourd County, but the news from Tongren Province wasn't very good. The Myriad Mountains Bureau reported to Magistrate Zhang that Ambassador Pang and a few officials in key positions in the tax department had heard the news and fled without a trace. They had taken their families with them and disappeared without a trace. The trail was thus broken.

It was believable to say that they had received the news beforehand and fled, but to say that not only did they flee, but they also took their families with them without any hurry, and that the authorities didn't know anything about it, was somewhat inconceivable. It was obvious that the Myriad Mountains Bureau wasn't the only ones involved in this case. It was just that they knew in their hearts that they couldn't point it out.

Hu Qifeng was riding a skinny donkey. It was as if he had left Hangu Pass, and once he left, he wouldn't return. If they couldn't catch him, it would be difficult to find out who he would sell the stolen goods to. In reality, they still had another lead, and that was the Suzhou aristocrat Wu Yueyue. However, there wasn't much hope of opening a gap from him.

Even so, Ye Xiaotian still held onto a sliver of hope. He wrote down the whole story in detail, stamped the magistrate's seal, and sent it to Tongren Province. After Magistrate Zhang of Tongren Province read it, he sent it to the Punishment Bureau. The Punishment Bureau stamped their seal, and then sent it to Jinling's Ministry of Justice.

Fortunately, Wu Yueyue's family was large, and it was impossible for him to abandon everything and escape. Otherwise, before the long process was completed, even if Wu Yueyue brought his entire family, rented a large ship, and went overseas to search for the immortal mountain, he would have plenty of time.

When Jinling's Ministry of Justice saw the official document sent by the Guiyang Department of Justice, they sent people to arrest Wu Yueyue. Unfortunately, while the official document was still in circulation, Wu Yueyue had already received the news. He used all the connections that needed to be used, and all the evidence that needed to be destroyed was also destroyed.

When Wu Yueyue arrived at the court, he insisted that he didn't sell any contraband goods, and that he didn't have the source of the contraband and distribution channels. The treasures that came from Southeast Asia? Go ahead and investigate, they were all fakes, used to show off.

What did he say to Mao Wenzhi? What did he say? He didn't say anything. He just saw that the merchant was stupid and rich, and wanted to do business with him, so he acted extravagant and showed off his power. What business did he want to do with him? Of course, it was silk. Who said I wanted to sell him contraband? That was because the deal didn't work out, and he deliberately made a false accusation. Someone in Hulu County was selling contraband? What did that have to do with me?

The Wu family's power wasn't small, and this Wu Yueyue also had a scholarly rank, so he couldn't be punished. Jinling's government was choked by him, and in the end, he could only be acquitted. When Ye Xiaotian heard the news, he could only sigh, and couldn't do anything.

But no matter what, this time he had made a great contribution, and in addition to the credit that Jing Qian gave him for suppressing the bandits, Ye Xiaotian's examination book would certainly have a good exam result. His promotion was only a matter of time. But this kind of promotion, for Ye Xiaotian, was like distant water that couldn't quench his present thirst.