Huh? The Tyrant Cries After My Inner Thoughts Were Exposed!-Chapter 173: Raising Havoc at the County Government

Chapter 173: Chapter 173: Raising Havoc at the County Government

Leaving the guesthouse, Yu Zhong sent the matters here and the organized testimonies to the Capital City via fast horse, taking only three witnesses and dealing with the rest on the spot.

The group split into two routes, one team taking the witnesses to Xu State Prefecture to report the events to the Prefect of Xu State.

Yu Zhong led a subordinate, along with Xie Xun and Su Juan, to the County Government, continuing to seek Liu Miaoying and others and the whereabouts of the relief silver, cautiously preventing the He County Magistrate from destroying evidence after learning of the guesthouse incident.

Upon arrival at the County Government, they could still see many disaster victims sitting on the road in front, but having been chased away before, they dared not approach.

As the few of them took two steps toward the entrance of the County Government, they were stopped by Government Officials, "What are you doing, what are you doing! Do you think you can enter the County Government at will!?"

Seeing the fierce-looking Government Officials before them, Xie Xun rolled his eyes in his heart; it was the first time someone dared to show off their authority to Young Master Xie.

Yu Zhong said in a deep voice, "I have a murder case to report, I hope you can pass on the message."

The two Government Officials exchanged a glance and replied wearily, "Aren’t there enough deaths now? The County Magistrate doesn’t have time for you!"

Another one was even more arrogant, scrutinizing the group, seeing them dressed in plain cloth, he scoffed, "Smells like a bunch of paupers, lost your mother or your wife and children?"

Su Juan glanced at Yu Zhong, knowing that he was testing again.

If he revealed his identity, these people would certainly change their attitudes to flattery, but without doing so, how could they clearly see what kind of miscreants inhabited this He County Government Office?

Yu Zhong was not annoyed, taking out a petition from his clothes, "I hope the lords can help pass this petition along, many thanks."

The petition was handed over, and the lead Government Official took it, glanced at it, and then stretched out his hand to Yu Zhong.

The group did not understand: "?"

Seeing the people before him standing like logs, the Government Official spat and shouted at them, "Give silver! Don’t you need to pay to get things done!?"

Yu Zhong frowned, "I just want to hand over a petition, and that requires a fee?"

The Government Official sneered, "In our Xu State territory, where don’t you have to pay to get things done?"

Su Juan was not surprised; in remote places like Xu State, some officials feel that the Emperor is far away and indulge their subordinates in taking bribes, needing money for petitions, entering County Governments, needing money for everything. Some corrupt officials even judge unjust cases, detaining the reporters and waiting for others to ransom them with silver.

As a result, the poor dare not report cases, even minor ones; when no cases can be checked, there will naturally be fewer reports to the Capital City, making the Emperor think these places are well governed and harmonious.

Many scholars serve in these places temporarily after evaluation, later promoted back to the Capital City with the help of connections within the court, using these areas as stepping stones, naturally not truly serving the people.

Although the Emperor has implemented many policies to address these corrupt officials, there are many who deceive superiors and hide the truth in the court.

The more Su Juan understood, the clearer she was that in this era where all messages depended on manpower and horses for delivery, the sky truly was high, and the Emperor truly was far, unable to manage everything.

But it was also the first time she had seen so clearly scenes previously only found in documentation, a dire disaster situation, people eating their young, corrupt officials...

If only someone could do a little more, perhaps the terrible situation could improve slightly.

As Su Juan was musing, the Government Officials, seeing no silver, began to physically drive them away, tossing the petition onto the ground and cursing at the four, "No money to report a case? Do you think the County Government is your home, coming and going as you please!?"

"Get out, out, get out!"

Yu Zhong glanced at his subordinate, who understood immediately. He moved to action, and Xie Xun followed by hitting the Government Officials. The officials, being mere knaves, had no real skill, and were easily struck down, one even rolling and crawling into the County Government to file a complaint.

The group of four directly barged into the County Government, striking down any Government Officials that blocked their path.

Xie Xun fought with growing excitement, finding it thrilling—it was the kind of scene only found in storybooks, but following Su Juan, excitement was never lacking.

Originally lounging with his legs crossed, holding a jade statue and inspecting it, County Magistrate Dong, upon hearing someone causing a disturbance, stormed out without even setting down the statue, leading his people and confronting Su Juan’s group at the public court.

"You have great guts, causing a ruckus at the County Government! Arrest them all!"

"Where is Liang Fei! Tell him to get in here immediately, letting these troublemakers in or does he not want to work anymore!"

County Magistrate Dong shouted twice, but no one appeared.

The He County Chief Clerk said, "Sir, Liang Fei and the others have all been taken down by them..."

At this moment, no one could stop these people.

County Magistrate Dong pushed the He County Chief Clerk forward, "Hurry and arrest them for me!"

The He County Chief Clerk, trembling all over, saw the large knife on the person’s waist and was terrified. In his fear, he tripped himself and fell to the ground.

Prepared to act, Xie Xun: "..."

Truly a more useless waste than Young Master.

County Magistrate Dong, frustrated and afraid to approach, pointed at them and questioned, "How many heads do you have to lose for trespassing the government office!?"

Yu Zhong coldly replied, "How many heads do you have to lose for accepting bribes for petitions, County Magistrate Dong?"

County Magistrate Dong was unimpressed, sneering, "The government office doors are wide open, no money, no justice."

"Without paying for petitions, who will take the case? Is the County Government here to work as your laborers!?"

Even Su Juan laughed aloud at this.

Yu Zhong frowned deeply, having visited various places before, finding Xu State more remote than others. It was his first time here, truly unexpected to see such a state.

County Magistrate Dong glared at them, by now the previously knocked-down Government Officials had scurried over again.

Feeling emboldened by numbers, he gained confidence, "Capture these four audacious people already!"

Each was poised to act, yet none dared truly charge forward, given that the earlier hits still stung, and some bones might even be broken.

Yu Zhong’s subordinate immediately took out the prepared Holy Decree and official seal, "Impudence! The Ministry of Justice and Dali Temple are handling a case, the Emperor’s decree is present, who dares defy it!?"

The County Magistrate, steady and cautious, stepped forward to verify, and after confirming, he was the first to kneel, "Subordinate He County Magistrate, pays respects to the Emperor! Greetings to the higher official!"

County Magistrate Dong broke out in a cold sweat, puzzled as to how people from the Ministry of Justice in the Capital could be here in He County!

"Subordinate pays respects to the Emperor."

The County Government people looked at each other, unsure what kind of official Dali Temple was... but seeing the weighty introductions, they all knelt one after another, trembling, not daring to raise their heads.

Su Juan, with sharp eyes, noticed the jade statue in the County Magistrate’s hand, clicking her tongue, "[Considering the severe disaster in Xu State, County Magistrate Dong is quite wealthy, that small statue in his hand could probably buy a sizable house here.]"

Instantly, the other three also looked over, recognizing at once that the statue’s material was undoubtedly expensive.

Yu Zhong recalled that County Magistrate Dong was not from some noble family, and his salary only sufficed for basic living expenses. It seemed he indeed had a lot of stolen goods. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

He sneered, "County Magistrate Dong, that small statue looks quite nice, must have cost a lot of silver, no?"