Chapter 183: Jian Ming, Talk to Shui Jun
boom--
In the city of Nanshao Prefecture, the dawn mist had not yet dissipated, and the light of the rising sun had just appeared on the horizon when the gate of the government office, which symbolized the highest authority of Nanshao Prefecture, was blown to pieces.
In the confused and panic-stricken eyes of the government servants, they saw a nobleman in white leading two wolves, black and white, rushing in , and behind him was a warrior with strong energy and blood, as fierce as a tiger or wolf.
"Where is your Shao Yin? Why isn't he in the government office?"
"Shao Yin lives in Yonglefang..."
Soon, amid screams, they saw that Lord Shao Yin, who held an important position in the government office, was dragged in from outside and hung at the gate of the government office. As they heard the steel whip lashing his flesh and Lord Shao Yin wailing at the top of his lungs, they understood why this lord had suddenly met with misfortune.
He abused his power, accepted bribes and bent the law to extract bribes from the county magistrates under his jurisdiction, providing them with protection and promotion guarantees. Because the amount he demanded was so huge, the county magistrates had to impose taxes on the people under his jurisdiction, causing the people to live in poverty and complain.
When hearing about the crimes committed by Shao Yin, many of the onlookers did not show any indignation on their faces. Instead, they felt that Shao Yin was somewhat pitiful.
Because isn't that what these officials are like? Officials protect each other, superiors protect subordinates, and subordinates will do whatever it takes to secure their own positions, to ensure that they can be rated high in official assessments, or to get a chance to be promoted.
Working in the government, you've seen many officials like this, so it's nothing surprising. But it's really pitiful that he was hung at the gate of the government office and beaten for this.
Of course, these yamen runners had such a feeling because the taxes were basically not levied on them, otherwise, they would probably cheer like the people gathered at the gate of the government office.
"Who are you? You are so bold that you actually rode a horse and committed a crime in the government office, disregarding the laws of the Great Jin court!"
Seeing Feng Qing'an being so presumptuous in the government office, the officials who came hurriedly scolded him, because Feng Qing'an made too much noise, and the city defense troops had already gathered here. These soldiers who were marching in unison, armed with armor and sharp weapons gave them great confidence.
"Law? I am the law of the court!"
Feng Qingan took out a gold medal and threw it at the feet of the Nanshao prefect, who was also startled and had a dark face.
"Night Watch! You are..."
When the officials saw the token thrown out by Feng Qing'an, they immediately cried out in surprise, and the looks they gave Feng Qing'an were full of fear and disgust. The Night Patrol, which had the power to supervise all officials, naturally stood on the opposite side of the officials, and the two were like water and fire.
"Even if you are a member of the Night Patrol, you have no right to treat Lord Shao Yin like this. Why don't you put him down immediately? What's your name? I will definitely report you!"
Feng Qing'an's wanton and arrogant attitude also angered the government officials, and the city defense troops who had surrounded Hu Ya gave them enough confidence.
"Report on me? I will never change my name or surname, Yongning, Feng Qing'an!"
When Feng Qing'an heard that someone was going to write a memorial to accuse him, he immediately became interested and showed a playful smile on his face, but he also reminded him,
"By the way, my eldest brother is the governor of Gunzhou, Feng Qingping, courtesy name Chengwen, you guys go and report me!"
As soon as Feng Qing'an finished speaking, the government office fell silent. The official who had threatened to impeach Feng Qing'an suddenly became silent, lowered his head and counted ants.
At the gate of the government office, the city defense captain, who was ready to lead troops to rescue Shao Yin, waved his hand and stayed where he was. Then he looked at Feng Qing'an and the warriors around him who were rubbing their fists, especially the two wolves with lazy postures, and then slowly walked out of the government office.
"Master Feng, if you have something to say, you can talk it out. Why do you have to humiliate Master Shao Yin like this?"
The highest official of Nanzhao Prefecture stared at Shao Yin for a long time without saying a word. After finding that the old man had been whipped more than a dozen times but had not been beaten to death, he immediately felt confident and looked at Feng Qingan and asked slowly.
"Humiliation?"
When Feng Qingan heard this, he immediately laughed, and a snow-white long sword appeared in his hand.
"Why do you think I rushed to Nanshao Mansion overnight?"
"Mr. Feng!"
Seeing the sword in Feng Qing'an's hand, the prefect felt something was wrong, and the other officials were so scared that they retreated one after another, because the soldiers outside not only did not rush in, but began to retreat, which made them lose the courage to face the madman.
Zheng~
Qingshen unsheathed the sword, the sword flashed, and a wisp of sword energy flew out. This was the sword energy that Feng Qingan cut out with his own physique and the techniques he mastered, without the help of any external force.
It's not that he couldn't cut out a stronger sword energy, but there was no need. After all, the target was just an old man who had been beaten half to death. If it weren't for the blue official robe on him, Feng Qing'an wouldn't even bother to look at him.
Phew!
A handful of blood gushed out from the neck of Shao Yin who was howling in pain. After Feng Qing'an drew his sword, Sen Miao could no longer hold on to his last breath, and his life force quickly drained away.
In the early morning before the sun rose, one of the most important figures in Nanshao Prefecture was dragged out of his bed while his mind was still half clear, beaten up, and then stabbed in the throat with a sword.
But this was not the end, but the beginning. The moment his breath of life ended, his life as a human being ended, and what greeted his confused soul were cold shackles.
There were already ghosts and gods waiting here. Before marching to the Nanshao Prefecture County Government Office, Feng Qing'an first led people to the City God Temple to say hello to the underworld.
Because he found that instead of letting Sen Miao expend his demonic power to maintain the vitality of these rats and termites, and then punishing them with human punishments, it would be better to give them a clean kill and let their souls fall into the hands of ghosts and gods. Compared with human punishments, the underworld has too many tricks.
"You are so brave!"
Seeing Feng Qing'an, who killed Shao Yin with one sword cleanly and neatly, the prefect of Nanshao Prefecture shouted angrily.
As the saying goes, when a rabbit dies, the fox mourns; all creatures of their own kind feel grief for each other. Although he often fought openly and secretly with Shao Yin for power and profit, he did so in accordance with the rules. On the surface, they were all very friendly. But Shao Yin, who was only half a level lower than him, was beheaded in front of the government office today. It was simply ridiculous!
After ten years of hard study and twenty years of diligent management, I finally got to where I am today, but everything was taken away by one sword!
How ridiculous!
"Your hearing is not good, or there is something wrong with your brain, your memory is not good, I have just read out his evidence, what? Do you want me to repeat it to you again?"
"Even if he is guilty, he should be punished by the imperial court. How can he be humiliated by a child like you?"
The prefect's hair and beard stood on end, and it was obvious that he was greatly stimulated by Feng Qing'an's behavior.
"Execute first and report later. This is a special permission granted by the emperor. What? Do you not accept it?"
Feng Qingan pointed at the gold medal he had thrown to the ground.
"Imperial power? I don't see any respect for the imperial power or the court in your eyes!"
The prefect took one look at the smashed yamen gate and his expression became extremely grim.
"You corrupt officials who prey on the people, you rats and borers, you want people to respect you? You don't deserve it!"
"You are so rude!"
"As the saying goes, snakes and rats flock together. Shao Yin is like this, so how can you, the prefect, be any better?"
Feng Qingan sneered, "The Shao Yin solicited bribes and messed up Pingwu County under his jurisdiction like this, and the prefect was completely unaware of it? Isn't this nonsense? How can such a corrupt official get along with the honest officials who don't take a penny?"
"How dare you, young man, spit blood at me!"
"Forget it. I'm in a hurry and don't have much time to waste on you parasites. Just ask directly!"
Feng Qing'an looked at the tall figure standing respectfully beside him. Behind this figure, there were Yakshas and ghost messengers serving him. One of the ghost messengers had an iron chain in his hand, and a figure with an old face and a look of fear was struggling constantly. It was Shao Yin just now.
"How many years has this prefect been in office?"
"Six years!"
"Is there any corruption or abuse of power?"
"Of course there is!"
With a light sigh, although there are ghosts and gods everywhere in Dajin, one should not think that these virtuous ghosts and gods have been accumulated . Even so, the City God Temples in some counties are vacant and have no ghosts or gods in residence!
"Who are you talking to?"
Seeing Feng Qing'an facing away from the crowd, seemingly communicating and asking questions to some invisible being, the prefect was immediately shocked. He knew of the existence of ghosts and gods, but his communication with them was only in dreams and very few times.
"Who else could it be? There are gods above us. Whatever you do, the gods and ghosts will see it."
Feng Qing'an glanced at them, and the government officials, who were already afraid, were now completely panicked.
Normally speaking, since they are separated by the Yin and Yang, even if the gods and ghosts see what they do, it will not have any impact on them, because the gods and ghosts do not have the ability to punish human officials, and they cannot even make decisions.
However, now a madman has appeared who can summon ghosts and gods to question him and even has the power to punish officials like them. Just now, Shao Yin was beheaded and is now dead.
"You are too presumptuous. How dare you disrupt the order of yin and yang?"
"Are you done? If you are, go write your resignation letter. It's time for you to give up your position!"
Feng Qing'an, who had already learned about the prefect's life from ghosts and gods, said expressionlessly without drawing his sword to attack him.
Because this prefect had political achievements worth boasting about. He had done a lot of work in building bridges and roads. He even had the ingenuity to build an orphanage to take in the elderly who had no one to support them and abandoned babies. These were all things that benefited the people.
However, he had all the problems that all officials have. Although he did not solicit bribes, he did accept a lot of bribes. Besides, he turned a blind eye to his subordinates accepting bribes. He also did not know the specific situation in Pingwu County.
He only knew that the pig that had been taken to the underworld had been levied privately by the county magistrate, most of which he used to honor the Shao Yin, but he ignored it.
In the eyes of this prefect, it is normal for officials to be corrupt. There is no official who is not corrupt. It is impossible to ask his subordinates not to be corrupt. He only requires them to do their job well while being corrupt.
"You asked me to write a resignation letter?"
The prefect, whose hair had turned gray, had a look of disbelief on his face.
"Don't you think you're doing a good job as the prefect? The people under your rule have been forced to sell their children by your subordinates, and you still think you're a good official?"
"Selling children? This is impossible!"
The prefect retorted subconsciously.
"Nothing is impossible. Wu Qilang, take our prefect to Pingwu County and let him lower his head to see what the people are suffering!"
"yes!"
Wu Qillang walked out, ignored the old man’s resistance, picked him up and rushed out of the county government office.
"Sir, look, as for this matter of corrupt officials, would you please wait until the matter of the Water Lord is dealt with before you come back to take a look?"
Seeing the prefect being forcibly taken away to experience the suffering of the people, the ghost and god on the side who was particularly cooperative asked in a respectful, even humbly manner.
"Take me to see the two banks of the Boliu River!"
"yes!"
The ghosts and gods were ecstatic. In their opinion, this young man must have the ability to intimidate the Lord of the Boliu River.
They didn't expect too much, they just hoped that the Water God could perform his duties as before, make it rain as usual, and resume production.
Led by ghosts and gods, Feng Qing'an and his party, who had caused a huge commotion in the city, left the government office. The moment they left, someone holding a token took over the government office and quelled the commotion in a very short time, restoring everything to normal.
“Here, it’s almost unaffected!”
By the Boliu River, Feng Qing'an saw lush wheat fields. The sight of the soft breeze carrying moisture blowing through the wheat fields was pleasing to the eye, but it also made Feng Qing'an frown.
"Yes, this place is close to the river, so it is very convenient to divert water. Whether it rains or not has little impact on this. However, the farther away from the river, the more it is affected by rainfall. Some counties are counting on rain!"
The ghost and god introduced the situation to Feng Qing'an in detail.
"The rice fields along the river are almost unaffected, but the total grain output of Nanzhao Prefecture last year decreased by nearly 20%. So, the grain output of some counties was averaged. In fact, their output decreased by nearly half compared to previous years?"
Feng Qing'an's expression became serious. The situation in some places was more serious than he had imagined. Their miserable situation was masked by the seemingly not-so-serious total output.
The natural distribution of water vapor is never uniform. In some places there is so much water vapor that it can cause floods, while in other places it is so dry that not even a drop of liquid can be seen.
Precisely because water vapor is unevenly distributed, the existence of a responsible water god is particularly important.
"Yes, in some places, the grain production has been reduced by almost half, just as you said, and the situation is even more serious this year!"
“In some places, we can’t grow food anymore!”
Feng Qing'an looked at the turbulent and abundantly flowing Boliu River. He remembered the dry wheat fields he saw in Pingwu County, and those old peasant women who, when they met noble men, would impatiently pull their children to block the way in the middle of the road and beg these noble men to buy their property.
Zheng~
The sound of a sword rang beside his ears, and Feng Qing'an felt happy. He stretched out his hand, and an ancient long sword that he had hardly used appeared in his hand.
This seemingly plain and simple long sword is now emitting a faint red light, flickering. There seems to be a red dragon entwined on the dark red scabbard, emitting a clear dragon roar.
"Sir, you are..."
When the ghost saw the sword in Feng Qing'an 's hand, he couldn't help but retreat several feet. Even so, he felt extremely uncomfortable.
"It's nothing, don't worry about it. Can you let Boliujiangshuijun come out? I want to talk to it!"
Feng Qing'an held the sword that could slay gods and dragons with a gentle smile on his face. He had never been so sure that he could pull out this sword that had been cutting through uneven surfaces.