Liaozhai: A scholar should draw a sword

Chapter 15 Fighting with the County Magistrate

"It's all at the instigation of Master Cheng Dajun Cheng. He sent a servant named Agou and promised me 100 taels of silver to kill Zhou Juren..."

Wu Yiwu fully explained.

Zhou Yu recorded his statement on the spot and asked Wu Youhua to charge him.

In the end, Jiang Butou heard that Cheng Dajun was the mastermind behind the scenes, and refused to arrest him.

He is not stupid.

Knowing that Cheng Dajun is close to the county magistrate, he has to donate a lot of money every month, and he can be called the God of Wealth.

With such a relationship, the county magistrate might not easily move Cheng Dajun.

In fact, Zhou Yu had already communicated with the county magistrate Chang Fugui before, but Cheng Dajun's name was not mentioned.

Now that the evidence is solid, it's time for a showdown.

So, he said to Jiang Butou: "Jiang Butou, I know your difficulties.

In this way, Master Ben will go back to the county government office with you and tell Mr. Chang personally. "

Hearing this, Jiang Butou looked grateful, cupped his hands and said, "This is the best, thank you Master Zhou."

"You're welcome, Boss Jiang, please!"

"Hurry up, take the prisoner back to the county government...Master Zhou, please!"

In order to prevent the news from leaking, Zhou Yu specially arranged for Butler Wu to go with two servants to monitor the arresters so that they would not sneak away to inform Cheng Dajun.

When he arrived at the county government office, Jiang Butou first went to wake up Master Dong and asked Master Dong to notify the county magistrate.

After all, he didn't have the guts to call at night.

Not long after, Chang Fugui came out with sleepy eyes and yawned.

After all, Zhengxiang who was sleeping was awakened by someone, and no one would be happy about it.

But he had to come out. After all, Zhou Yu was not an ordinary citizen, but a dignified man, a well-known squire in Guobei County.

From ancient times to the present, all dynasties have implemented the system of "imperial power does not come down to counties" in order to save national treasury expenditures.

The so-called imperial power does not come down to the county, which means that there is no imperial government at the township level.

Therefore, there are no mayors or township chiefs.

But after all, rural land and population account for the majority, so how should they be managed?

Then it depends on the country gentry everywhere.

Generally speaking, if there is a juren in the local area, they must take on the positions of village head, village chief, etc., and comprehensively manage taxation, public security, etc. in the area under their jurisdiction.

If there is no candidate, then step back and choose a well-known local scholar or patriarch to assist in management.

If a county wants to complete the taxation, corvee, grain collection and other matters stipulated by the imperial court, it must rely on the assistance of the gentry in the jurisdiction.

Therefore, after a new county magistrate takes office, he will take the time to visit the well-known gentry in the area as soon as possible, and try to establish a good relationship.

Otherwise, if the squires do not actively cooperate, local officials should not expect political achievements.

Maybe I have to lose my black hat.

"I'm really ashamed to disturb Master Chang's rest late at night..."

As soon as Zhou Yu saw Chang Fugui coming out, he went up to hand in his hands and said politely.

"Master Zhou's words are serious, please sit down quickly... Come and enjoy tea!"

No matter how upset Chang Fugui was, he had to be polite in face.

After the two sat down, Catcher Jiang hesitated for a moment, and finally handed Wu Youhua's confession to Chang Fugui.

"My lord, this is a confession, please read it over, my lord."

"Oh? Recruited so soon?"

Although Chang Fugui is a donated official and has no fame, he can be considered literate anyway, so he read the confession.

Just looked at it for a while, and couldn't help being surprised: "Cheng Dajun? How...how could...

Master Zhou, is there some misunderstanding here?
No matter how bold Cheng Dajun is, he doesn't have the guts to attack you, does he? "

Sure enough, this guy had already read the confession, and immediately subconsciously wanted to protect him.

Zhou Yu said with a straight face: "Master Chang, this is the murderer's confession in front of Jiang Bo and all the other arresters..."

"But Mr. Zhou, could it be that the murderer was instructed by others to deliberately frame him?

Otherwise, when the Japanese officials hold a retrial tomorrow, they will definitely give Master Zhou a satisfactory explanation. "

Hearing these words, Zhou Yu became angry.

"My lord, by tomorrow's news, I'm afraid the city will be full of uproar.

If it was really Cheng Dajun, and he wanted to abscond in fear of crime, how could Mr. Chang give Zhou a satisfactory answer? "

"This……"

"Since Mr. Chang is in a difficult situation, let's let this matter go. I trouble you to return the murderer to Mr. Zhou."

Chang Fugui was taken aback: "Give...give it back?"

"Yes, murdering Juren is a serious crime, not to mention that the murderer is a member of the rivers and lakes, which violates the taboo of the court.

Therefore, Zhou is planning to contact a group of scholars in the county, jointly submit a letter to the government office, and entrust the government office to report to the imperial court..."

"Etc., etc……"

Chang Fugui broke out in a cold sweat.

If the common people say that, he will only listen to it as a joke.

But a Juren is indeed qualified to submit a letter to the government... Once this case becomes serious, will he still be an official?

The superiors really need to send someone down to investigate carefully, and find out all kinds of activities between him and Cheng Dajun at that time... Don't mention the black hat, maybe he will go to jail.

There is no other way, depending on the situation, I can only give up the car to protect the handsome.

Zhou Yu asked on purpose: "What's the matter? Lord Chang doesn't want to hand over the prisoner?"

"No, no, that's right, I took a closer look, and I feel that what Master Zhou said is very reasonable.

Regardless of whether the real culprit behind the scenes is Cheng Dajun, he should be locked up first to prevent him from absconding in fear of crime. "

"Master is wise!"

Zhou Yule clapped his hands together and said.

"Jiang catcher."

"exist!"

"Hurry up and bring people...remember to bring more people to put Cheng Dajun and related people in prison for a confrontation tomorrow."

"Impressive order!"

With the order from the county magistrate, Jiang Butou naturally has no scruples.

After Jiang Butou left, Chang Fugui coughed dryly and said, "That...Master Zhou...

Anyway, it's so late, why don't you stay and have a cup of tea, and you'll be relieved when someone catches you back. "

"Then Zhou would be more obedient than respectful."

After chatting for a while, Zhou Yu pretended to be casual and said, "Master Chang, although Zhou doesn't know Cheng Dajun very well.

However, I have also heard some rumors that this guy is bullying men and women, and has a few lives on his hands..."

"Huh? There is such a thing?"

Chang Fugui pretended to be surprised.

In fact, what did Cheng Dajun commit, he would not know?

Not to mention far away, let's just say that two months ago, Cheng Dajun personally brought someone to the door to press for debts, and finally forcibly took away the other party's wife.

After taking it home and tossing for three days, the woman couldn't bear the humiliation and committed suicide by jumping into a well.

In the end, Chang Fugui settled the matter and took 200 taels of silver from Cheng Dajun.

"What? Master Chang has never heard of it?"

Chang Fugui shook his head like a rattle drum: "Of course I haven't heard of it, if I heard of it, how can I allow such wicked people to cause disaster for the village?"

"That's right, Mr. Chang is an upright official, with a bright mirror hanging high, hahaha!"

Zhou Yu's laughter was not without sarcasm.

People are afraid of magistrates, but he is not.

There is a folk saying called "the magistrate of flowing water, the master of iron".

County magistrates are mobile and often come and go, but a squire in a local area is passed down from generation to generation and deeply rooted...

(End of this chapter)