Chapter 94: Arrest
Editor: Atlas Studios
Jiang Ze chuckled. “Oh, so it’s the magistrate. Forgive my poor eyesight, but I really couldn’t tell it was you right away. My eyes were glued to the person behind you, so I didn’t see you for a moment. Please forgive me.”
In spite of his apology, he didn’t even get off his horse. Instead, he waved his hand and said, “Boys, open your eyes and take a closer look. Is the person standing behind the magistrate in a bailiff uniform Qian Shu?”
Turning pale with fright, Qian Shu fell sitting on the ground as he defended himself. “I didn’t collude with the enemy to betray the country! I didn’t!” Then, he hugged Wu Shancai’s thigh and cried. “Sir, Sir, I didn’t collude with the enemy to betray the country. I merely abandoned the city because I was timid. I really didn’t betray the country. You have to save me. I’m the Young Master’s uncle.”
Wu Shancai’s face turned pale as he scolded, “What are you shouting for? Go away.” He turned to look at Jiang Ze angrily. “Jiang Ze, you’re not worthy of talking to me. Let your general come. Qian Shu is a local official and belongs to my jurisdiction. It’s not within your general’s power to punish him.”
Jiang Ze’s expression slowly darkened. He looked at Wu Shancai coldly and said slowly, “Magistrate Wu, Qian Shu is under your control, but he allowed the Jin soldiers to enter the city. Colluding with the enemy and betraying the country involves the Ministry of War. Our general has the right to investigate. Now, Qian Shu came to you instead of going anywhere else. I remember that when General Qi returned to the city to save the people, he was locked outside the city gate by the magistrate. If my general hadn’t tried his best to jump up the city gate, Xingzhou Prefecture would probably have been captured by the Jin soldiers, right?”
Advisor Huang couldn’t help but close his eyes. The thing he was most worried about had still happened.
It was Qi Xiuyuan’s fault for failing to protect the county well, but it was also a fact that he had missed a good opportunity by being locked outside the city gate. As such, it was very likely that the Imperial Court would not convict him. However, Magistrate Wu, who had ordered the city gate to be closed and not let anyone enter the city, was in danger.
In addition, Qian Shu was Wu Shancai’s favorite student and had abandoned the city to escape. Qian Shu’s half-sister was also his Third Concubine. It would be too easy to frame him.
Cold sweat broke out on Wu Shancai’s forehead, but he could not say that he was instructed by someone. Once he said that, he would immediately be deemed guilty. Now, he could only push the blame to the soldiers guarding the city.
“Men, bring Qian Shu back for interrogation. Magistrate Wu, if you have any questions, just come to the West Camp to ask.”
The soldiers rushed forward and pulled out Qian Shu, who was hiding behind Wu Shancai. Qian Shu hugged Wu Shancai’s thigh tightly and wailed, “Sir, save me. I’m innocent! I’m really innocent…”
“Haven’t you eaten? Why does it take you so long to arrest one person. Look, he even tore Magistrate Wu’s clothes. Hurry up and pull him out.”
The two soldiers who came looked at each other before exerting strength. Not only did they pull Qian Shu out, but they also tore Magistrate Wu’s clothes.
Jiang Ze looked at Magistrate Wu’s sorry state in satisfaction.
Qian Shu was dragged to the West Camp. When he saw the soldiers eyeing him covetously, he bowed with a bitter expression. “I really didn’t collude with the enemy and betray the country. I really didn’t.”
Qi Xiuyuan walked over and circled him three times, before saying with a smile, “Of course I know that you couldn’t have done that. It’s not as if you have the ability. But you need to stay in the West Camp for a while. By the way, we need someone to wash our soldiers’ clothes. Before we behead you, here’s your chance to make some contribution.”
Qian Shu’s legs trembled slightly, and his voice trembled. “Be… behead?”
Qi Xiuyuan looked at him with a faint smile. “Why? Do you think you can still live? You abandoned your people and fled from the city. It would have been fine if you had escaped without a trace and stayed under the radar after changing your name. However, you ran to Magistrate Wu’s residence. You should be glad that I didn’t force you to confess to the crime of colluding with the enemy and betraying the country. Nine generations of your family would have to be beheaded for that.”
Qian Shu knelt on the ground with a plop, filled with endless regret.
Qi Xiuyuan snorted and turned to leave. He instructed Jiang Ze, “Take him away. If you have any dirty work to do recently, feel free to order him around.”
Jiang Ze nodded. After watching Qi Xiuyuan leave, he squatted in front of Qian Shu and smiled. “Do you know how many people died in Mingshui County?”
Qian Shu looked at him in a daze.
“Less than two-thirds of the people in the three villages survived, and this was especially severe in the Seven Mile Village. Almost all the villages were burned to the ground by the Jin soldiers. If you hadn’t escaped with most of the bailiffs, they would have been spared. Our reinforcements would have arrived in another hour. Just one hour. Tell me, do you think you ought to be killed?”
Qian Shu muttered, “I… I didn’t do it on purpose. I just didn’t want to die…”
Jiang Ze stood up and looked down at him. “No one wants to die, but because of you, so many people died. You deserve to be killed. Before you die, be of some contribution to us.”
In fact, in Jiang Ze’s opinion, not only did Qian Shu deserve to be killed, but Wu Shancai also deserved to be killed. If he had not locked the general outside the city gate, they would not have been so passive and wouldn’t have taken so long to send reinforcements.
Wu Shancai panicked and looked at the refugees surrounding the government office. Gritting his teeth, he said, “Advisor Huang, why don’t we take out some grains to help the refugees? We can’t have them surround the place all the time.”
Ever since Mu Yangling exposed the fact that a relief grains warehouse, the refugees refused to mortgage the title deed no matter what. Even worse, they gradually surrounded the government office and could not be chased away no matter what.
With the group of starving refugees outside, Wu Shancai could not sleep well at night. It had only been two days, but he could not take it anymore.
Advisor Huang, who knew Magistrate Wu and the squires’ plan, thought for a moment before saying, “I’m afraid Minister He and the others will have objections…”
“I have objections too. It’s not as if the refugees are surrounding their homes.” Magistrate Wu paced around. “If you ask me, they’re really ruthless. The interest they set is higher than loan sharks. Only a stupid person would borrow grains from them.”
“Their only two options are to starve to death or borrow grains. Once they can’t take the hunger any longer, they’ll naturally cave in.”
Magistrate Wu sneered. “Other than giving in, they could also riot. When the time comes, we’ll be the first to suffer.”
“Sir, why don’t you mention it to General Qi and ask him to send troops over to protect you?”
Magistrate Wu rolled his eyes. “We’re already mortal enemies. Do you think he’ll agree?”
“How do you know that he won’t agree since you haven’t even mentioned it to him?” Advisor Huang said meaningfully, “Sir, there’s still a long collaboration between you and General Qi in the future. He’ll still have to rely on you to raise the military salary for next year.”
After pondering, Magistrate Wu asked, “Do you really think it’s feasible?”
Advisor Huang nodded slowly. “It’s worth a try.”
“Alright, I’ll listen to you.” Magistrate Wu said, “Get someone to prepare a sedan chair. We’ll go to the West Camp now.”
“Sir, it’s better to take the carriage. Considering there are refugees on the way, it’s safer to take the carriage.”
Magistrate Wu nodded repeatedly. “Yes, yes. Take the carriage. Go and prepare the carriage.”
At this moment, Mu Yangling was taking out the last piece of silver for Mu Shi. Sighing, she said, “Alright, let’s not talk about returning the money for the medicine. It’s already good enough that we’re not borrowing additional silver from them now.”
Mu Shi put away the silver and said nonchalantly, “As long as we’re alive, we can always earn money. The most important thing now is to buy more grains.
Can’t let the villagers starve to death after they finally managed to escape from the murderous Hus.”
Shu Wanniang took out a silver hairpin. “Take this, too. Buy as much as you can.”
Mu Shi stopped her. “This won’t help much anyway. I bought this for you when we got married. Unless it’s for the children, I won’t allow you to spend it.”
Shu Wanniang lowered her head and smiled shyly. “Just buy another one for me in the future. Aren’t times difficult now?”
Seeing her parents showing off their love, Mu Yangling felt her teeth ache. She covered her eyes and said, “Tsk, I think I’m about to get a sty.”