The Golden County Magistrate

Xueyan finally came back to her senses, her cheeks flushed slightly, but she thought to herself that it was not so exaggerated. It was definitely more comfortable, but it was a bit exaggerated to say that it was several dozen times more comfortable.

But even so, the living conditions on this ship were too good. I am afraid that even the nobles did not have such good conditions, right?

She calmed down and said, "Since your Excellency has such a plan, Xueyan will not say much. Let's just wait for your Excellency to get ready and then we will set off!"

After saying that, she wanted to leave the room.

"Wait a minute!"

But Chen Yan stopped her, stood up and took out a book about an inch thick from the drawer of the dressing table and handed it to her.

"What is this?" Xueyan quickly took it with both hands, a little confused.

"Please remember these signal gestures, Miss Xueyan."

"During the sailing process, if you encounter unexpected situations, in order to avoid shouting to let potential robbers, bandits, and bandits know the specific content of the instructions, I will use these gestures as orders."

"In addition, this ship will sail as the first ship of the fleet, and all ships must keep intervals as required and follow behind this ship."

Chen Yan said simply.

Xueyan was surprised and said: "Instructions? But the boss asked me to be responsible for this northbound trip. How to sail should be commanded by me."

Chen Yan laughed: "You? It's not that I look down on Miss Xueyan. Your people are just the guards of the Chamber of Commerce. How can they be compared with the elite soldiers and generals of my Qingshan County Nafu Camp?"

Xueyan was speechless for a moment.

Nafu Camp is the lowest among the troops. Why does this guy talk like the most elite army of the Great Zhou?

Moreover, there are many experts in marching and arranging battle formations in their Fengling Guards. They have already made arrangements for this waterway voyage. How can they be compared with the general Chamber of Commerce guards?

"Sir, this..." Xueyan wanted to speak.

"No need to say more. If you want me to go with you, then I must lead you. Go ahead! I still have to arrange those unplaced luggage!" Chen Yan did not give her a chance to say more and walked out.

Xueyan had no choice but to leave the house together.

There was no way. Tang Yun had told her before that if there was a dispute with Chen Yan on the way, she should follow his way for the time being. Now she had to listen to him for the time being and arrange a response plan in secret.

Fortunately, there should be no dangerous places along the way on this trip north, so there should be no problems.

When all the luggage was loaded on the boat, Chen Yan waved goodbye to Lu Qing'er who saw him off on the shore with tears in his eyes.

He thought about it all night and finally decided that he still had to go.

The official letter of dispatch could not be published, but the content of the dispatch could be exploited.

It was written that he was to assist in the operation of opening up the Tianxuan Mountains, but it did not say that he had to accompany him from beginning to end.

When the time came, he would stay at the scene for a few days, and when the gunpowder exploded, he would leave and return to Qingshan County, which would be regarded as fulfilling the dispatch order.

Roughly speaking, it would take at most twenty days, which would not affect the overall construction of Qingshan County.

However, since he was going to go with them, the number of soldiers brought by the Nafu Camp had to be changed.

Not only did the number of second-class soldiers increase to ten, but the number of third-class soldiers also increased to ninety.

Half of them were not on the boat, but were scattered on the river bank to serve as scouts.

He did not trust the reconnaissance capabilities of the guards of the Zhou Chamber of Commerce at all, and it was more reassuring to use his own people.

After the fleet set sail, it went north upstream.

Chen Yan stretched on the deck and turned back to the cabin.

Last night, because he knew he would be separated from Qing'er for a while, he spared no effort and paid several days' worth of public grain. Now he was exhausted, so he had to catch up on some sleep first!

…

Wuyin City, the prison.

Cao Yu's eyelids twitched slightly, looking at Song Zhixian, who was dying in the prison.

Because he was delayed on the way, he was originally scheduled to arrive in Wuyin yesterday, but he arrived today.

According to the plan, Zhao Changhe and Song Zhixian should come to greet him together, and then he would read the transfer order of the Ministry of Personnel, officially removing Zhao Changhe's position as the prefectural governor and handing it over to Song Zhixian.

As a result, when he arrived here, only Zhao Changhe greeted him.

When he asked about Song Zhixian's whereabouts, Zhao Changhe hesitated and said that something happened, and then took him to the prison, where he saw Song Zhixian who was locked up.

Cao Yu originally had other things in mind, and wanted to finish the matter early, then go to do his own business, and then return to Beijing to report.

But I didn't expect that there would be complications!

"What's going on here!"

Cao Yu pointed at Song Zhixian in the prison, suppressed his anger, and asked heavily.

Zhao Changhe gritted his teeth and said what He Dun had taught him: "Reporting to the adults, Song Fucheng has committed a crime and is being detained according to the law. He needs to be tried on a later date."

Cao Yu said angrily: "What crime could he have committed? What could be so serious that a fourth-rank official needs to be imprisoned in the prison?"

Zhao Changhe turned his head and looked at He Dun who was standing beside him.Dun.

He Dun said calmly: "Reporting to the Lord, Song Fucheng has committed three serious crimes. According to the Great Zhou law, officials who break the law will be punished more severely. Lord Zhao has no choice but to do so."

Cao Yu said angrily: "What I want to ask is what he has done!"

"He abused his power to commit violence and raped several maids in Lord Zhao's house, committing the crime of raping women, this is the first crime;"

"He beat the servants and caused injuries, committing the crime of assault and injury, this is the second crime;"

"He did not follow the law and etiquette, insulted and beat his superiors, this is the third crime."

"These three crimes are all supported by witnesses and evidence."

"Based on this, he will be detained."

He Dun said them one by one.

Cao Yu was stunned.

It was indeed a serious crime, but the third one really surprised Cao Yu.

"He beat his superior? Who did he beat?" Cao Yu frowned and asked, his anger slightly subsided.

"It was me." Zhao Changhe said quickly, pointing to the swelling on his face that had not yet disappeared.

"What? He actually beat you?" Cao Yu was shocked.

"It's like this, Song Fucheng raped my maid first, and I didn't want to make a big deal about it, so I didn't pursue it. But he... he actually..." Zhao Changhe said here, his expression was also angry, "He was rude to my wife! I couldn't help but argue with him, but he got angry and attacked me. My guards in the mansion beat him up to protect me."

Cao Yu was shocked and understood.

Cao Yu, who was in charge of the Ministry of Personnel, knew what kind of person Song Zhixian was.

It can be said that he basically had all the problems that officials had.

But he did one thing very well, that is, he was particularly good at pleasing his superiors.

Therefore, he succeeded in currying favor with Prince Yi, and has been rising rapidly in recent years.

But in the end, he still didn't expect that this guy would want to touch the wife of the current prefect before he took office!

"Save...save me..." Song Zhixian said with difficulty in the prison. After being locked up, he was already injured, and He Dun deliberately had people not give him rice or even water, making him extremely weak now.

Cao Yu's face turned blue and red, and he finally stamped his feet in anger, turned around and walked away quickly.

This matter had a huge impact, and he really didn't dare to rashly order the release of Song Zhixian.

The only plan now was to return to the capital first and report the matter to Prince Yi to see what he would do.

If Song Zhixian was to be rescued, it would be much better for Prince Yi to come forward than for Cao himself!

Half an hour later, Cao Yu's carriage left Wuyin.

As soon as he arrived outside the city, he was caught up by several riders from behind and stopped the carriage.

"Who is it?" Cao Yu was startled and asked in surprise after lifting the curtain.

"Sir Cao, I am He Dun, can I talk to you alone?" The leader bowed with both hands and said respectfully.

"What do you and I have to talk about?" Cao Yu said vigilantly.

"Your subordinate, I want to see His Royal Highness Prince Yi!" He Dun said in a low voice.

Cao Yu was shocked and his eyes suddenly became sharp.