The Hidden Immortal

Chapter 52 Severe Punishment

When Magistrate Zheng Xiuwen learned that the displaced people had turned into bandits, he went to the garrison without saying a word, used his official hat as collateral, and borrowed three hundred soldiers.

These officers and soldiers are trained year-round, and their attacks are deadly; they are far superior to bandits.

County Lieutenant Feng Jintang suggested following Tang Shijun's example and absorbing the vagrants who hadn't committed any major crimes but were just taking advantage of the chaos into the local population, but Zheng Xiuwen flatly rejected the idea.

"Lord Tang did this back then because those refugees did not cause any trouble, and the population of Pingshui Town had decreased sharply."

"Times have changed. If we absorb the rebellious refugees into the local households, everyone will flee here in the future, which will surely lead to great chaos."

Those who cause trouble will be severely punished!

Zheng Xiuwen has a strong personality and doesn't give face to anyone.

Many of the refugees had blood on their hands and were arrested and tied up.

According to the laws of Jing Kingdom, a life for a life, and what awaits them is the death of their heads.

As for those who cause trouble or commit robbery, if no one is killed, they are thrown into prison to await their fate.

The others either received beatings that left them with lacerated skin or were expelled without a clue where their future lay.

A few days later in Fenggu City, Zheng Xiuwen's unauthorized troop deployment sparked controversy.

Some officials believed that this was a serious crime and should be reported to the Ministry of Personnel for a decision.

Even worse, some wanted to arrest Zheng Xiuwen directly to avoid trouble from the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of War.

Of course, some people tried to exonerate Zheng Xiuwen.

The situation was urgent, and the messenger sent by Zhangnan County broke his leg halfway there, delaying the mission.

Under those circumstances, Zheng Xiuwen's actions to protect the villagers were somewhat understandable.

Tang Shijun, now thirty-three, is much more mature than when he left Zhangnan County.

He sat upright at the desk, showing no sign of impatience.

He listened quietly to the officials arguing below, his gaze indifferent.

At this moment, the clerk from the clerk's office came in and presented the letter, which was sealed with clay, with both hands.

"This was sent by Zheng Xiuwen, the magistrate of Zhangnan County."

The arguing in the council chamber abruptly ceased, and many officials turned to look.

Tang Shijun reached out and took the letter, calmly unfolding it.

Zheng Xiuwen did not exonerate himself in the letter, but instead admitted to the crime of arbitrarily mobilizing troops, and that it had nothing to do with the commander of the garrison.

He wrote down everything that happened in Zhangnan County in detail, down to the smallest detail.

This includes the deaths and injuries of people in several towns, property losses, and the unusual peace in Songguo Village.

Chu Xun's name naturally appeared on the letter as well.

Furthermore, it is written in great detail that Chu Jiebin made a great contribution to the preservation of Songguo Village during the peasant uprising!

However, he was unsure how to distribute the reward and wanted to ask the prefect to make the decision.

As for one's own sins, even in urgent situations, one should act in accordance with the law and not show favoritism.

The officials below had been carefully observing Tang Shijun's reaction, but they couldn't discern anything amiss.

Several officials from Fenggu City couldn't help but exchange glances and sigh inwardly.

"This Lord Tang's shrewdness has become increasingly profound; he truly possesses the composure to remain unfazed even when faced with overwhelming pressure."

"As expected of a second-place scholar from a prestigious family!"

Although he was only promoted to prefect for one year, Tang Shijun had made outstanding achievements in the three years prior to that, when he served as assistant prefect.

Otherwise, the Ministry of Personnel wouldn't have been able to promote him so quickly.

Fenggu City, which is currently a "lower prefecture", will surely be promoted to a "middle prefecture" in two years.

At that time, Lord Tang will probably have to move up another rank, or even be promoted directly from his current position.

The prefect of a "lower prefecture" is a fifth-rank official, while the prefect of a "middle prefecture" is a fourth-rank official.

After reading the letter, Tang Shijun's face showed a slight smile.

The officials were somewhat surprised to see him smile.

Prefectural Magistrate Wang Yanlin couldn't help but ask, "Why did Lord Tang laugh about that? What did Zheng Xiuwen write in his letter?"

Tang Shijun smiled, naturally because the trouble in Zhangnan County had been resolved, and also because he saw the name of an old acquaintance.

And that man did a very good job.

After putting down the letter, Tang Shijun looked at the officials and said, "Have you all finished discussing this? If so, I'd like to say a few words."

"Zheng Xiuwen has already pleaded guilty in his letter. Although there were extenuating circumstances, we cannot allow this to continue. This prefecture intends to demote him and investigate him. The position of magistrate of Zhangnan County will be temporarily filled by the registrar, Li Zhaoming. What do you all think?"

Everyone sitting here is cunning and shrewd.

Upon hearing this, it became clear that Tang Shijun wanted to protect Zheng Xiuwen.

The person was demoted and investigated, not dismissed, and it wasn't specified what level they were demoted to.

Furthermore, it is inappropriate for the registrar to temporarily act as the county magistrate.

After all, there is a county lieutenant above the chief clerk, and that is the more suitable candidate.

Zheng Xiuwen was promoted directly from registrar to county magistrate, and he barely passed the Ministry of Personnel's hurdle only because Tang Shijun vouched for him.

One can do something once, but not twice. Li Zhaoming's temporary appointment as county magistrate is not legitimate.

Once this storm has passed, it would be perfectly reasonable to find a pretext to reinstate Zheng Xiuwen to his original post.

This is not a new tactic in officialdom; everyone knows it.

Having understood this point, no one dared to raise any objections. They all bowed and said, "Lord Tang has thought this through carefully; it is only right."

"Then this prefecture will report to the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner's Office, which will then forward it to the Ministry of Personnel," Tang Shijun said.

He then added, "Another matter: Zheng Xiuwen stated that there were no refugees causing trouble in Songguo Village. Jie Binchu Xun's contribution was immense, and this government intends to reward him handsomely as a model for others."

"Please speak freely and decide what reward we should give him."

Prefectural Magistrate Wang Yanlin said, "They are merely country bumpkins; the county government can easily bestow a small reward upon them. There is no need for you, sir, to come personally..."

Tang Shijun looked up and said in a nonchalant voice, "When I served as the magistrate of Zhangnan County, this man used his own money to strengthen the national treasury. He helped refugees and shared the burden of the country, which was a considerable contribution."

Upon hearing this, Wang Yanlin's expression immediately turned awkward.

Even a fool could understand that the prefect meant, "This is an old acquaintance of mine; you'd better think carefully before you speak."

Zhenwei Martial Arts School, Zhangnan County.

The owner of the museum, Cao Yuanhui, sat in the main seat.

The martial arts school has been passed down for generations and is renowned for its prestige over hundreds of miles around.

Relying on his family's Wind and Thunder Fist and Six-and-a-Half Point Staff, all those who came to challenge him over the years have been defeated.

In the martial arts world, he was known as a master of both fist and staff fighting.

Now at sixty-nine, although his energy and blood are weaker than when he was at his peak, he has more experience.

Unfortunately, none of his four sons amounted to anything.

The eldest son was born deaf and mute, the youngest broke his leg when he was twenty-four, and the third son frequented brothels, which drained his energy.

Only the fourth child remained. Although he was free from any major illnesses or disasters, he was born with a weak constitution.

After practicing for so many years, he's only a fifth-rank martial artist.

As for the next generation of grandchildren, they are also spoiled beyond belief.

Zhenwei Martial Arts School may seem glamorous, but it is actually facing a shortage of qualified personnel.

This is also one of the reasons why Cao Yuanhui refused to go to the villages and towns below to help, and only wanted to stay in the county seat.

"I've heard that during this uprising of the refugees, there's a gentry named Chu Xun from Songguo Village who keeps some kind of crows that are quite formidable," someone said.

This matter has been widely circulated, and some even say that Chu Xun was favored by the Pine and Willow Water God, and that crows were protecting the human world.