Starting from the imperial palace guards, his clones spread all over the world

Zhang You's answer greatly surprised Qiu Zhuo.

"Are you talking about that sorcerer?"

"If I hadn't been busy with official duties lately, I would have convicted him and executed him long ago!"

"Zhang You, have you perhaps received benefits from that sorcerer that you dare to recommend him in front of me?"

Qiu Zhuo slammed the table and shouted angrily.

That sorcerer could gather tens of thousands of people in a short time, the power to bewitch people's hearts is simply terrifying.

If he were released, who knows what kind of impact he would cause?

Qiu Zhuo himself directly targeting wealthy merchants would only affect his future career.

But if that sorcerer really caused some kind of rebellious disturbance, then Qiu Zhuo would lose his official hat!

Zhang You hurriedly knelt down:

"Your Honor, how dare I do such a thing as accepting bribes?"

"The situation outside is already on the verge of being out of control!"

Qiu Zhuo was greatly surprised to hear this.

He had been isolating himself in the study these days, and he learned about the outside situation through other people's reports.

He originally thought that although the situation was bad, it was under control.

But Zhang You's words seemed to indicate otherwise.

"What exactly is the situation? Tell me in detail!"

Qiu Zhuo urged.

Zhang You then replied:

"Your Honor, now the plague is rampant in Taiyang County, and people's hearts are restless."

"A large number of people gather in front of the county government every day to petition, demanding the release of the Great Virtuous Teacher."

"I had no choice but to ask the County Commandant to bring in the city defense army to stabilize the residents somewhat."

"But these days, those troublemakers have become more and more agitated, causing many deaths and injuries. And more troublemakers are constantly gathering from various townships towards the city, all wanting to obtain the Great Virtuous Teacher's talisman water, which makes the situation even worse."

"Especially today, I received intelligence that those troublemakers are plotting to storm the county government tonight to rescue the Great Virtuous Teacher."

"I quickly asked the County Commandant to impose a curfew to stop the troublemakers' riots."

"But this is not a long-term solution, and if this continues, I'm afraid that in the end..."

Zhang You did not finish his words.

But Qiu Zhuo already felt a chill all over his body.

If those troublemakers really caused a large-scale riot, then his official hat would really be lost.

Qiu Zhuo sat back in his chair.

He thought for a moment and asked:

"If we kill that sorcerer now and order the city defense army to guard strictly, can we stop the people from rioting?"

Zhang You shook his head:

"If it were normal times, this would be a solution."

"But now the plague is rampant, and the people are suffering from illness. That Great Virtuous Teacher has become their only hope."

"If we do this, I'm afraid it will immediately cause turmoil."

"And..."

Speaking of the end, Zhang You hesitated slightly.

It seemed that some words were difficult for him to say.

Qiu Zhuo urged:

"If you have something to say, just say it directly."

Zhang You gritted his teeth and still said:

"And that sorcerer, I'm afraid... really has a way to treat the plague."

Qiu Zhuo snorted coldly upon hearing this.

He never believed in ghosts and gods.

Curing diseases with talisman water is even more absurd and illusory.

He didn't expect that Zhang You would actually believe it.

Zhang You explained:

"Your Honor, what I said is not based on hearsay."

"Since that sorcerer was imprisoned, those jailers have been trying their best to please him, arranging the best and cleanest cell for the sorcerer, and even offering him large pieces of meat."

"At first, I also scoffed at it, thinking that those jailers were just misled by rumors and would soon wake up."

"But who knew that these days I discovered that most of the people in the yamen have been infected, but those jailers are healthy, and even their family members have recovered after being infected."

"I learned after asking that the jailers obtained talisman water from the sorcerer by flattering him, which cured the plague."

"Afterwards, I personally went to Juniu Township to investigate secretly. I found that many of the original patients in the Lu Family Village have also recovered."

"I even sent people to infiltrate the Taiping Dao to investigate, and learned that the talisman water actually has an effect."

Qiu Zhuo hesitated upon hearing this.

Qiu Zhuo knew very well that Zhang You was meticulous in his work.

If even Zhang You could confirm it after investigation, then that sorcerer might really have some ability.

"Perhaps it is not the talisman water that can cure diseases, but that the sorcerer knows the way to treat the plague."

"Zhang You, can this method be obtained?"

"If we can really obtain the method to treat the plague, then we will have made a great contribution!"

Qiu Zhuo asked excitedly.

Finding a way to treat the plague and solving the plague in many counties of Qingzhou, the contribution made is enough for Qiu Zhuo to be promoted.

As long as he can obtain the treatment method, Qiu Zhuo doesn't mind Zhang You using any means.

Zhang You replied:

"Your Honor, if we use force, I'm afraid we will pay some price."

"I heard from the County Commandant that the martial artist who has been following that sorcerer has at least the strength of the eighth rank, and even the County Commandant is not sure of victory against him."

Qiu Zhuo snorted coldly, very dissatisfied with the threat of force.

He said in a deep voice:

"What about martial artists? If the County Commandant can't beat him, then we still have so many yamen runners, and we can also mobilize the city defense army."

"We can even go to the state government to seek help from the Six Doors, are we still afraid that there is no way to deal with him?"

The Six Doors is a department in the imperial court specifically used to deal with martial artists.

Zhang You did not answer upon hearing this.

Qiu Zhuo himself quickly understood.

Dealing with a martial artist may not be a big deal.

But now, at this time, the emotions of the people are already like a powder keg that will explode at the slightest spark.

Once the sorcerer is tortured or attacked at this time, it will inevitably detonate the powder keg.

Now, even the jailers in the county yamen have received the sorcerer's kindness, and this kind of thing cannot be hidden.

At this moment, Qiu Zhuo couldn't help but fall into a dilemma.

Zhang You then spoke again:

"Your Honor, even if that sorcerer controls the plague, as long as we guide it a little, the credit will still be on your head."

"And using the talisman water in the sorcerer's hand can also make the rich people in the city obediently take out their silver."

"We can also let the sorcerer restrain the believers and stabilize the situation in the city, which can be said to be a win-win situation."

Qiu Zhuo sighed and leaned back in his chair.

He said helplessly:

"Do you mean that I should go and negotiate with that sorcerer?"

Zhang You's words made sense.

Qiu Zhuo knew this very well.

That sorcerer cannot be killed, nor can he be released, so he can only cooperate.

But the most critical thing is to make that sorcerer cooperate and even obey him.

Since that sorcerer formed the Taiping Dao, it can be seen that his plans are not small.

Only when Qiu Zhuo offers enough benefits can both parties get what they want.

Zhang You replied:

"Your Honor, this matter has more advantages than disadvantages. I think it is feasible."

Qiu Zhuo sighed.

He, a dignified county magistrate, has actually been reduced to negotiating with a sorcerer who pretends to be a ghost.

Reason tells him that he should do this.

But from his pride and dignity, it makes it difficult for him to bow his head.

"Tomorrow, then."

"I will go and see him early tomorrow morning."

Qiu Zhuo finally said dejectedly.

Seeing that Qiu Zhuo agreed, Zhang You finally felt relieved and planned to take his leave.

But at this time, suddenly there was a burst of noise outside.

The noise quickly expanded, and in the end it turned into a burst of shouts of killing.

In the middle of the night, the sound resounded throughout the city, which was simply terrifying!

Qiu Zhuo and Zhang You were both shocked when they heard the sound.

They were about to go out to check.

But they saw a yamen runner running in in a panic:

"Your Honor! Something bad has happened!"

"Those troublemakers want to rebel. They dare to... they dare to storm the yamen!"

"Now the County Commandant is leading the soldiers and fighting with them. Please be prepared to evacuate at any time to prevent accidents!"