Chapter 580

"The Grand Master has arrived. Silence! Silence! "

Just as the noise in front of the yamen was incessant, a bailiff on the steps suddenly shouted. Shortly after, two official lanterns with the character 'hua' on it opened the way. Magistrate Hua Qingfeng, neatly dressed, walked out of the yamen under the protection of four strong bailiffs.

"The County Magistrate has come out!"

The area in front of the yamen immediately quieted down. Many commoners had never seen the County Magistrate's face before, and now they all looked around curiously. Hua Qingfeng stood on the steps and pretended to be fierce but weak at heart. He said in a dignified manner, "You unruly commoners, how dare you! Gathering in front of the yamen in the middle of the night, what do you want! "

After a moment of silence, there was a slight commotion in the Li clan's camp, and then a person was elected to answer. This person seemed to have seen some of the world, and his words were generous and appropriate, so he had a lot of prestige in the clan. Looking at his age, he was only middle-aged.

He walked close to Hua Qingfeng and knelt down, saying in a loud voice, "This commoner Li Mubai greets the Grand Master. This commoner's nephew, Li Yanting, was drinking at the 'Toad Palace Garden' today when he was suddenly arrested by the yamen's arrester Su and a group of ruffians. Arrester Su doesn't have the County Magistrate's arrest warrant, and he didn't bring anyone from the yamen with him, but he abused his power and arrested my clansman. Tonight, we came to the yamen to ask the Grand Master to uphold justice for our Li clan. "

"Oh?"

Hua Qingfeng glanced at him. Seeing that the Li clan still knew to fear the authority of an official, his originally nervous mood was slightly relieved. He stroked his beard and said, "Who saw arrester Su take Li Yanting away? What was the situation at the time?"

Hua Qingfeng originally thought that if that person wasn't there, he could send someone to find him. This way, he could buy enough time, but he didn't expect that person to be a member of the Li clan and was also gambling there at the time. Therefore, when Li Yanting was in trouble, he immediately rushed back to report.

At this time, hearing the County Magistrate's question, that person quickly knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "This commoner Li Yanju greets the Grand Master!" Then he told Hua Qingfeng what he saw from beginning to end.

On the way here, the Li clan had already discussed not to mention gambling. Li Yanting's participation in gambling was a small matter, but the County Magistrate supported the gambling house, which was a big matter. They believed that if they gave this favor at little cost, even the County magistrate would give it to them. If the County Magistrate didn't know what was good for him, he would drag Su Xuntian out and see who would be the uglier one.

Hua Qingfeng listened very carefully. He did not mind asking for confirmation on some minor details. This made Li Mubai and Li Yanju suffer. They knelt until their legs were numb. After much difficulty, Hua Qing Feng casually said, "I am clear about this matter. It is different from what you have said."

Li Mubai mustered up his courage and said, "If that's the case, please tell me what crime Li Yanting has committed."

"Cough!"

Hua Qingfeng cleared his throat and suddenly raised his voice, saying, "Disperse the miscellaneous people. The Li clan is waiting in front of the yamen. Bring the two of them inside to talk!"

After Hua Qingfeng finished speaking, he turned around and left. The nosy people who came out in the middle of the night to watch the show were naturally dissatisfied with this result. The Li clan didn't know what Hua Qingfeng wanted to do, so they also made noise. The yamen runners shouted, "Silence! Silence! The Grand Master is only asking the two of them to come inside to talk. If they dare to make noise again, I will disperse them with sticks! "

Although they said that, they didn't really dare to use sticks. Li Mubai was experienced and quite courageous. He pulled Li Yanju and followed Hua Qingfeng into the yamen.

Hua Qingfeng didn't take them to the main hall. He just randomly found a room in the front yamen. After entering, he sat on the seat of honor and said in a deep voice, "This matter is confidential. Now I'm telling the two of you to keep your mouth shut. If you leak it, you will be severely punished!"

Li Mubai and Li Yanting looked at each other. Seeing the county magistrate's solemn expression, they couldn't help but feel nervous. "Could it be that Li Yanting really committed a crime?"

Hua Qingfeng said, "A few days ago, I sent people to clean up the 'One Dragon' bandits. At that time, I received news that someone in my county was in cahoots with the bandits and secretly passed information to them. Although the 'One Dragon' bandits have been annihilated, their spy has never been caught. Therefore, this County Magistrate has secretly instructed Arrester Su to investigate in secret.

These days, arrester Su has investigated some people one after another, but he ruled them out as suspects one by one. Today, arrester Su reported to me that he had obtained new clues. A person named Li Yanting is a major suspect. He will find an opportunity to investigate this person. "

When Hua Qingfeng said this, Li Mubai and Li Yanju's expressions changed greatly. This was a crime of colluding with bandits. For Li Yanting, this was a capital crime. If this crime was confirmed, the entire Li family would be implicated.

Li Mubai couldn't remain calm. He anxiously said, "Grand Master, Li Yanting has always been law-abiding …"

Seeing that the Li family members were panicking, Hua Qingfeng calmed down and said in a deep voice, "I haven't finished yet!"

Li Mubai immediately shut his mouth. Hua Qingfeng said, "I've said it before. That Li Yanting is only a suspect and has not been convicted. Since he is suspected of colluding with bandits, of course, we have to investigate. But if we publicly arrest him, once the news is leaked and the person who colluded with the bandits is someone else, it is bound to alert the enemy. That's why arrester Su acted in secret. In order to deceive people, he brought some ruffians and didn't use people from the government. "

The two Li family members held their breath and listened to Hua Qingfeng. Only then did Li Mubai carefully say, "Grand Master, Li Yanting's family has surplus money, so he often gives loans for small profits. Giving loans is supposed to be urgent, but some people thank him profusely when they are in urgent need of money, but hate him to the bone when they pay back the debt, so it is inevitable to slander him. The so-called colluding with bandits must be these people who want revenge and punish him. Grand Master, please uphold justice. "

Hua Qingfeng said, "Whether he is guilty or not, we still need to investigate to know. If Li Yanting is really wronged, I naturally won't accuse him for no reason. After investigating and proving that he is wronged, arrester Su will release him quietly. Who would have thought that your people would make such a big fuss? I need to think of a reason that won't arouse suspicion. "

Hearing this, Li Mubai and Li Yanju couldn't help but secretly regret their impulsiveness. Hua Qingfeng pretended to ponder. After thinking for a while, he said, "How about this, I will think carefully. If Li Yanting is really not a bandit's spy, how should I explain to others that he was taken away by arrester Su? The two of you go back and pacify your people. Don't make trouble for no reason.

Then you go to the prison. In order to prevent the news from leaking, arrester Su took him there for questioning. If Li Yanting is guilty, the two of you must help the government persuade him to turn himself in. If you tell the truth early, you can reduce his punishment. If he is not guilty, the two of you can also tell him our difficulties and keep the secret for this county. Since you are good people, you should help the government get rid of the tyrants and pacify the people. "

The two people said yes and left with their tails between their legs.

Hua Qingfeng saw that he followed Su Xuntian's instructions and the Li family indeed showed signs of giving up. He couldn't help but secretly rejoice, "This combination of coaxing and scaring really scared them. That Ye Xiaotian has some crooked talent. "

He was a naive bookworm, but he didn't know that Ye Xiaotian's method was a common trick used by the bailiffs and jailers to swindle and deceive the superiors.

The Li family members were anxiously waiting outside the yamen. Suddenly, they saw two people coming out of the yamen unharmed. They immediately let out a sigh of relief and surrounded them.

The two of them were tense and didn't answer the questions of the people who came up to greet them. They hurried over to the Venerable, the oldest and most senior of the people present. They first told the other people to leave before whispering Magistrate Hua's instructions to the elder.

The elder couldn't help but become nervous. Li Mubai said to the crowd, "Everyone, Li Yanting being taken away is really a misunderstanding. The two of us will go see him now. If there's nothing else, we'll bring him back tomorrow morning. Everyone, please go back. "

One of the family members couldn't help but ask, "Uncle Mubai, what did the magistrate say to you? Why was Yan Ting arrested? You have to explain clearly."

The elder loudly scolded, "Shut up! Mubai has always been prudent. Since he said this to you, he naturally has his reasons. Alright, everyone, go back. If there's anything else, Mubai will handle it. All of you go back. "

As soon as the old man spoke, the Li family members no longer had any objections. They whispered to each other and dispersed. Li Mubai and Li Yanju stayed in front of the yamen. After the family members dispersed, two officials rushed over and led them to the prison.

The prison was to the west of the yamen. Normally, the prison was built together with the yamen. However, it had only been three or four years since Hulu County changed to a nomadic official system. In the past, the local Han people were under the control of the Inspection Department. At that time, the prison was built on the west side of the city wall. In order to save money when the yamen was built, the original Inspection Department's prison was taken over and used, so it wasn't together with the yamen.

However, Hulu County wasn't big. It was only a few streets away. Soon, they arrived at the prison. The prison guard saw that they were sent by the yamen. After checking the two officials' waist tags, he let them enter the main hall and sent a jailer to accompany them.

The six people walked forward and passed through a courtyard. Suddenly, there was a burst of shouting and cursing in front of them. Because it was late at night, they could still hear the clashing of weapons. The two officials were startled and hurriedly pulled out their knives. The jailer who led them also pulled out his knife and pretended to cry out, "Not good, something's wrong!"

The three of them quickly walked forward. Li Mubai and Li Yanju were a little nervous. They wanted to retreat, but no one led the way, so they had to bite the bullet and run forward with the three officials.

In front of them, there was a corridor. The corridor was not a straight line. It was not long, and then there was a turn. At this time, they saw the shadows of knives and swords flashing on the wall in front of them. It was obvious that someone was fighting in the corridor, and the shadows were reflected on the wall by the lights on the wall.

The shadows on the wall in front of the corridor kept twisting. There was also a person lying on the ground. Judging from his clothes, it was an ordinary person's robe. It was silent and seemed to be dead. There was another official next to him. He was wrestling with a man in a prisoner's uniform.

The three officials who accompanied Li Mubai and Li Yanju immediately raised their knives and rushed forward. Li Yanju was just an ordinary person, and even though Li Mubai had seen a lot of the world, he had never seen a prison break. He immediately stood there, trembling with fear. He didn't dare to go forward, nor did he dare to retreat.

Su Xuntian was holding the corpse of a condemned prisoner. He grabbed the corpse's wrists and was rolling on the ground in a wrestling position. Suddenly, the three officials rushed over and waved their knives at the corpse. Blood flowed all over Su Xuntian's body. Li Yanju felt his face wet. He reached out and wiped it. It was all blood. He was so scared that his eyes rolled back and he immediately fainted.

Su Xuntian secretly let out a sigh of relief. He hurriedly threw the corpse away and shouted, "Quick! The condemned prisoner is escaping from prison. Go help him! "

The three officials "chopped" the "escaped prisoner" and immediately rushed into the corridor. Li Mubai stood there trembling. He saw the shadows fighting on the wall become more and more intense. Because of the addition of the three new troops, the battle quickly ended. There were still people standing on the wall. They were all wearing uniforms and looked like prison guards. Only then did he let out a sigh of relief. Only now did he realize that his crotch was wet. He was so scared that he peed his pants.