Xu Xian was still not used to being kowtowed to by others, especially when Madam Chen knelt in front of him. He felt that something was not right.
However, even when she was kneeling, she raised her head and chest and did not appear to be fawning over him. She was not like Chen Lun who respectfully placed his head on the ground.
However, Xu Xian was clear that in terms of gratitude, Madam Chen was probably ten times or even a hundred times better than Chen Lun. It was just that she was not used to fawning over him.
Xu Xian invited them to stand up and asked with a smile, "Have you found a place to stay?"
Chen Lun hurriedly replied, "Thanks to Daren's grace, we have found it. It is not far from the yamen." Thirty taels of silver was enough for an ordinary family to spend for a year or two.
Madam Chen also thanked him in a reserved manner. However, she could not help but think about Chen Lun's cold attitude last night. Even when she clearly swore that she was not humiliated, he only laughed dryly, showing that he did not believe her.
After that, the two of them lived separately and did not speak again.
She felt bitter in her heart but could not do anything. Suddenly, she understood that his divorce letter was sincere.
Xu Xian said, "I will need you to be a clerk first. Help them write the complaint!" It was not easy to find a literate person in this remote and desolate place.
Chen Lun happily agreed and repeatedly thanked him.
Outside the yamen, a divination table was set up and everyone lined up for Chen Lun to write the complaint.
Xu Xian returned to the court and said to the yamen runners, "Working under Feng Zhicheng, you are all accomplices to the villain. However, there are also times when you are forced to do so.
As long as it is not a heinous crime, speak up now and I will give you a light sentence. If someone comes to sue you, then you will be punished. As the saying goes, 'Leniency for those who confess, severity for those who resist'. "
His words caused everyone to tremble. Being in their position, even if they did not do many bad things, they would still be able to get something out of it.
However, looking at the bustling scene outside, they knew that if someone really did sue them, the County Magistrate's viciousness was something that they had all seen with their own eyes.
Immediately, a yamen runner came out and said that he had received some bribes, but it was only some loose silver and that he had helped Instructor Bao to threaten someone.
Xu Xian ordered his men to flog him ten times, and then said, "Good, recognizing your mistakes is the first step to correcting them.
From today onwards, you will be the head constable. "If the water was too clean, there would be no fish. He wasn't so extreme as to be as incorruptible as Hai Rui.
The constable was overjoyed. The ten beatings he received just now were from his own people, and they were only superficial wounds. How could he have imagined that he would become a constable? He hurriedly knelt down, "Thank you, your excellency!"
The other constables hated themselves for being too slow.
The other bailiffs and even a bunch of low-ranking officials also confessed. Xu Xian also punished them lightly.
Of course, he knew that there were many who were not telling the truth, because as soon as he concentrated, everyone's thoughts automatically floated into his mind, and most of them were recalling their own sins.
Rather than saying that he was using magic, it was more like he was born with the ability to read other people's minds.
However, Xu Xian wasn't in a hurry. Heaven's net has a long way to go, and when the good and the evil come to an end, retribution will finally come.
When the commoners outside the yamen saw this, they were even more elated.
An old woman came to the court with a piece of paper that was still wet with ink. She knelt down, and before she could explain the matter, she fell to the ground crying, "My little Hairy son died such a bitter death!"
Fortunately, there was a piece of paper. The constable presented the paper to Xu Xian. When Xu Xian saw it, he flew into a rage, "Where's the tax collector?"
The tax collector hurriedly knelt down in the middle of the court, "Your excellency!"
Xu Xian narrowed his eyes, "You forcefully led this old woman's ox, and even beat her eight-year-old son to death?"
The tax collector cried out, "Your excellency, I've been wronged. It was this unruly commoner who refused to pay the tax, so I led his ox. His son was also kicked to death by the ox, and I feel very sad."
The old woman cried out, "It was clearly you who kicked him. The little Hairy son didn't let you lead the ox, so you kicked him down. He hit a rock and never got up again. Your excellency, please uphold justice for me!"
Xu Xian suppressed his anger, "What tax did she resist?"
"Is it the bandit tax?"
"What kind of tax is this?
Why haven't I heard of such a tax in this dynasty! "
"It's … it's set by the district magistrate, to raise money to attack the surrounding bandits."
"Then you go and accompany the district magistrate!"
The tax collector said, "Your excellency, I've been wronged!
I really didn't kill that child, it was this unruly commoner who deliberately framed me. "He then said to the old woman," You said that I killed your child, but who can testify?
If there's no evidence, then it's a false accusation … "He had a glib tongue, but the illiterate old woman couldn't argue with him. After a while, she was speechless and could only cry.
"Your excellency, you've seen it for yourself. It's obvious that this unruly commoner is framing me, you must not be fooled!"
If it was an ordinary official, he might have to carefully explain himself to avoid wronging a good person. But Xu Xian only said, "Execute her!"
He could clearly see the tax collector's cunning thoughts. Sitting here, he didn't intend to rely on his intelligence to solve the case. Since the ancient law of torture is so useful, he will let these people have a good taste of it.
The tax collector was not able to endure the torture. Not long after, he confessed everything in full detail and was also sent to prison.
Like this, the documents were presented one by one. From Xu Xian's point of view, they were all bloodstained. There were people who were careless and were beaten to death by Instructor Bao on the street.
There were people whose wives and daughters were raped by Magistrate Feng. When they couldn't complain, they hanged themselves.
Most of the cases were against the dead Instructor Bao, but there were also a few cases of murder, followed by Magistrate Feng.
Most of the minor officials in the court were the Feng family's lackeys. In a short while, they were all swept away by Xu Xian.
There were so many documents, but none of them were filed against Feng Zhihong. At most, they were filed against the Feng family's housekeeper for forcibly occupying their land.
With his Mind Reading Ability, Xu Xian didn't need to observe people's expressions. If they confessed, it would be fine. If they refused to confess, they would all be tortured.
Before noon, the matter had been dealt with, and the prison was crammed full of criminals.
However, many of the criminals were hiding in the Feng residence outside the city. There were also some bandits in the forest.
The bandits here were very serious. They hid in the mountains and would come down to rob whenever they had the chance.
Although Magistrate Feng said that he wanted to collect taxes to govern, the more he tried to govern, the more bandits there were. This task naturally fell to Xu Xian. However, he already had a plan in mind.
In the Feng residence, Feng Zhihong ordered people to tear down all of Xu Xian's poems on the wall. Only then did he calm down a little. He didn't expect Xu Xian to be so bold and determined to be his enemy. He must have given him a day of grace yesterday just to save Chen Lun.
Sitting back on the armchair, he asked the messenger, "The yamen servants are people who have received our kindness. Why would they listen to Xu Xian's orders?"
His greatest confidence was that the county government was full of their people. No matter what Xu Xian wanted to do, he couldn't escape their eyes. He didn't expect the situation to be reversed in a moment.
"Master, that Xu Xian is very powerful. When he speaks, no one dares to disobey."
Zhang De 'an shouted, "Master, that Xu Xian knows sorcery. At that time, I couldn't control myself and ended up in this situation."
"Sorcery, sorcery, it's just some strange tricks. How dare you show it off in Lingnan!"
An Long's generation had many sorcery spells. Feng Zhihong was very knowledgeable and had seen some sorcerers. It was indeed a good trick.
However, it could only harm people secretly. It couldn't be shown in public. As long as the deity was found, a dozen guards could swarm him and kill him.
"Xu Xian, ah, Xu Xian, since you don't know how to appreciate kindness, don't blame me for being ruthless!
Zhang De 'an, Xu Xian wants you to go and treat my brother's injury. What do you think? "
Zhang De 'an turned pale with fright, "Master, you can't do that. I have great enmity with Xu Xian and Chen Lun. If I go, I'll definitely die!"
"Then I'll give you a way out. Take this letter and immediately go to Du Long Mountain. Give it to their chief and persuade him to go down the mountain to get rid of Xu Xian. You're very eloquent. We need you in this matter."
"I don't know the chief. It's more suitable for the housekeeper to go."
Zhang De 'an quickly refused. The mountains in Lingnan were not like those in Jiangnan. There were countless ferocious beasts and poisonous insects. There were also many fierce barbarians. If they were not careful, they could lose their lives.
Therefore, the people in Anlong County could only bear the injustice and couldn't leave this place.
Feng Zhihong said, "I have another task for the housekeeper. He wants to go deeper into the mountain and go to the barbarian's stronghold.
He knows magic. Don't tell me I don't know people who know magic?
Why?
Do you want to change places with him?
Or are you not willing? "
Zhang De 'an looked at Feng Zhihong's increasingly cold face. He didn't dare to refuse and reluctantly accepted the task.
But he didn't know that it was also because of this that Xu Xian decided to wait for a few more days. After all, compared to attacking the mountain bandits, it was easier to wait for the mountain bandits to walk into the trap.
Feng Zhihong sent another group of people to the prefectural city with a letter to invite the prefectural magistrate. However, he didn't want to take the risk of entering Anlong County to save Magistrate Feng.
What he didn't know was that in Xu Xian's eyes, his actions were like watching a fire from the shore. Xu Xian also wanted to meet this prefectural magistrate. If he was also a criminal, then he would find a way to get rid of him or control him to prevent him from causing trouble behind his back in the future.
At noon, when Xu Xian finished all the cases, there were already people shouting at him for justice. Xu Xian naturally didn't dare to accept it. He asked everyone to return to their homes first. When the case was solved, he would give them an explanation.
Xu Xian looked at the four words "Mirror of Eminence" above his head and felt that it was appropriate.
Then, he took out the merit jade token and was shocked. When he was investigating the cases, he felt the merit jade token flashing, but he didn't expect it to be this much.
Yesterday, it was less than a million merit points. In just half a day, it had become more than three million merit points.
He couldn't help but sigh. Sure enough, it was easier to accumulate merit points by taking up an official position.
However, this was also because the unjust cases that had been suppressed here for many years were cleared by Xu Xian. More importantly, Xu Xian didn't have the slightest desire for fame and wealth. He did these things purely out of the will in his heart.
If he had the intention of fighting for power and wealth or fishing for fame, it would be good if he could get ten percent of the merit points.