Prosperous Tang Dynasty

Chapter 48
"What's wrong with your father?" Li Fei asked in disgust, shaking the snot that Cao Xiaozhong had wiped on his clothes.

"My father was framed by Zhang Fucheng, and he is now in prison." Cao Xiaozhong said with a look of grief and indignation.

"What's going on?" Li Fei frowned, very puzzled. County Captain Cao is no longer the third in command of Xunyang County. Cao's family, like Lin's, are both strong and powerful in Xunyang County for tens of hundreds of years. He has more energy than Zhang Fucheng, a county magistrate who has only been here for a few years. How could he be framed so easily?
Following Cao Xiaozhong's narration, Li Fei finally knew what was going on.

Cao Xianwei is in Xunyang County, mainly in charge of public security and collection of taxes.

A month ago, someone suddenly came to the yamen to sue County Captain Cao for forcing people to death while urging taxes, and using his power to enrich his own pockets and embezzle tax money.

The combination of the two is a serious crime, ranging from dismissal from office to exile, and even decapitation.However, that person also produced a lot of evidence, although it could not completely prove the crime of Lieutenant Cao, but it was enough to put him in prison.

"How do you know that your father must have been wronged and framed by County Magistrate Zhang?" Li Fei asked.

This kind of thing is generally more complicated, and he will not get involved until he understands it, even if he has a good impression of Cao Xiaozhong, but this is not the reason for him to help him without hesitation.

"Although my father is in charge of public security and tax collection in Xunyang County, our Cao family has been based in Xunyang County for nearly a hundred years. It's possible." Cao Xiaozhong was convinced.

"The imperial court collects taxes every year, and there are always people who can't pay due to various reasons. For those who encounter real difficulties, my father will even temporarily lend them money, help them pay, and let them pay back slowly in the coming year. How can you force people to death?"

Datang's taxes were collected according to the number of people, regardless of property or the number of acres.When the Tang Dynasty developed into the period of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, land annexation became very serious. Some people had tens of thousands of acres of fertile land, while others had no land and had to rent other people's land. However, the taxes paid by the two people were the same every year.

There are many poor people at the bottom. Renting and planting other people's land not only has to pay rent to the landlord every year, but also pays taxes to the court. Once the harvest is slightly poor, it is normal to not be able to pay the taxes.

If you say that you forced a lot of people to death when urging taxes, as long as you didn't die in front of yourself, you would be scolded at most, which is not a big crime.And the crime of enriching one's own pockets and embezzling taxes is a serious crime. Once the charges are finally proven, one will be exiled even if one is not dead.

Li Fei frowned, even if County Captain Cao didn't force anyone to death, and didn't enrich himself, how could he be sure that County Magistrate Zhang framed him.

"Then how do you know that County Magistrate Zhang framed your father?"

Speaking of this, Cao Xiaozhong gritted his teeth, his face full of anger, he must have suffered some kind of humiliation.

"Since Zhang Fucheng fell in love with Yang Guozhong, he has gradually disregarded my father and Lin Xiancheng. Before, he wanted to suppress my father and Lin Xiancheng. With Yang Guozhong as his backer, he became more and more arrogant. The Lin family and the current prime minister Li Linfu has some connections, Zhang Fucheng will not dare to move for a while, so he will take my father first!"

"I hate that bastard not only framed my father, but also set his sights on our Cao family's property, implying that I would take the Cao family's property in exchange for my father's life, but took my Cao family's property and did not keep the promise, it is extremely hateful! "

Cao Xiaozhong didn't say that Li Fei didn't know yet, it turned out that the Lin family had some relationship with Li Linfu, the Prime Minister of the current dynasty, but he didn't know to what extent.

According to Cao Xiaozhong, the possibility of County Magistrate Zhang framing Cao County Captain is quite high, even if Cao County Captain is defeated, it is not surprising to start with Lin Siming. After all, he wants to dominate the family in Xunyang County and is deeply rooted in Xunyang County. The Cao family and the Lin family are stumbling blocks.

Despite what Cao Xiaozhong said, Li Fei still wanted to see Lieutenant Cao again.

Cao Xiaozhong's eyes lit up, these days, he has always wanted to go to the prison to see how his father is doing, but county magistrate Zhang deliberately suppressed him, so he couldn't see him at all.Now that Lord Li Fei is taking the lead, no one dares to stop him.

The noble concubine confessed her adopted son, the matter was too sensational, the traffickers knew about it, especially Li Fei was originally a "celebrity" in Xunyang County, the jailers did not dare to doubt Li Fei's identity, let alone stop Li Fei.

Li Fei took Cao Xiaozhong and finally met Cao Xianwei.

At this time, County Captain Cao was imprisoned for more than a month, covered in dirt, not in good spirits, and very embarrassed.

Even though he was not in a good spirit, the first moment he saw Cao Xiaozhong, Cao Xianwei jumped up angrily, pointed at Cao Xiaozhong and cursed: "You prodigal son, our Cao family has nearly a hundred years of property, and you gave it away like this! You Come here, I'll kill you prodigal son—"

County Captain Cao cursed loudly, Cao Xiaozhong shrank his head and did not dare to approach, looking at the roaring father in fear.Li Fei had no doubts at all, if Cao Xianwei hadn't been imprisoned, Cao Xiaozhong would have been beaten to death immediately.

After scolding for a long time, his mouth became dry, and Cao Xianwei slowly stopped.

"Prodigal son, Zhang Fucheng didn't have any solid evidence to convict me, so he locked me up at most. Even if he really did something to me, as the heir of the Cao family, you should keep your ancestral property, but you—— You just want to let me go out, my Cao family has a lot of property, giving it to anyone can save me, but you actually gave it to Zhang Fucheng, how can I have such a stupid son like you!" Cao Xianwei's words are full of Powerlessness.

Just like what Cao Xianwei said, the Cao family’s nearly [-]-year-old property is not a small fortune. Anyone can see it and give it to the state officials, Jiedu envoys, governors, or other officials. The possibilities are very high, but giving it to Zhang Fucheng is definitely like a meat bun beating a dog, eating it all up, and turning your back on you won't help you.

"Father, I know I was wrong. That bastard Zhang Fucheng doesn't mean anything. Don't worry, I brought Li Fei here. He will definitely save you." After being tricked by Zhang Fucheng, Cao Xiaozhong also knew that he was stupid and shrank. Apologize with head scratched.

"Li Fei?" County Captain Cao finally turned his attention to Li Fei.

"Captain Cao." Li Fei smiled and cupped his hands at Captain Cao. Seeing Captain Cao's temper just now, he was sure that Captain Cao was framed.

"Father, Li Fei is now the adopted son of the imperial concubine and empress, and has been conferred the title of Marquis of Jingyang. He is much bigger than Zhang Fucheng. He will definitely save you." Cao Xiaozhong pinned all his hopes on Li Fei.

"That's right, the dignified concubine's adopted son, Marquis of Jingyang!" Cao Xianwei sighed, long before he was imprisoned, the news of Li Fei had spread all over the Tang Dynasty, and he had heard of it: "It's really a hero born a boy, You can't accept it!"

No matter what method Li Fei used, he was really unconvinced that he could achieve his current status. Anyway, he was much stronger than a district captain.
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(End of this chapter)