I, Jiajing, successfully cultivated immortality

Chapter 37 People and Officials

"My lord, a group of scholars gathered outside to make trouble, shouting slogans!"

Ma Ningyuan was working in the Yamen of Hangzhou Prefecture, when a soldier hurried in to report.

"What are they shouting?" Ma Ningyuan asked without changing his expression.

"They...they are shouting..." The soldier hesitated, not daring to continue.

"Say, what are you dawdling about?"

"They yelled outside, asking you to release that Lu Dongxing from Bailu Academy!"

"It's really unreasonable. Go out and tell them that Lu Dongxing is the suspect who abetted the murder! Tell them to leave quickly. If you continue to make noise outside the government office, don't blame me for being rude."

"Yes." The soldier took the order, and then rushed out.

Disturbed by the news, Ma Ningyuan lost interest in working, rubbed his temples, and looked tired.

"Everyone should leave as soon as possible. The magistrate said that Dean Lu Dongxing Lu was involved in a case of instigating a murder! Once the government finds out the truth, he will be let go."

The soldiers sent by Ma Ningyuan were very embarrassed at the moment. On the one hand, the prefect of Hangzhou's own immediate boss, on the other hand, was a young and energetic scholar who had the right to speak. Neither of them was easy to mess with, so they could only comfort them softly. road.

"You fart, how can my teacher be this kind of person! It's clear that your government is deliberately finding fault."

As soon as the soldier's voice fell, a grumpy student corrected him.

"Huh, I think it's because the teacher said a few bad things about changing rice into mulberry, and you were arrested and imprisoned. Your strict party can stop the mouth of one person, and can also stop the mouths of many people in the world." ?"

"If the teacher doesn't come out today, we won't leave!"

"Yes, we will not leave today!"

Seeing that the scholars became more and more excited, the soldiers who had taken orders before did not dare to persuade them anymore, for fear of stimulating them again and causing disaster.

Just when he was about to go back and report to Ma Ningyuan, he saw Ma Ningyuan had appeared behind him at some point.

He hastily bowed and said: "Master Zhifu, the villain has persuaded him several times, but they just refuse to leave."

"It's okay, go down, let me tell them!" Ma Ningyuan waved his hand, signaling the soldiers to go down.

"You are Ma Ningyuan, the prefect of Hangzhou? You ordered the teacher to be arrested?"

Seeing Ma Ningyuan coming out of the government office, the leader of the scholars stood up and asked.

"That's right, my official is Ma Ningyuan, the prefect of Hangzhou, and your teacher was indeed arrested by my order."

"Why, the teacher has always been a high-minded man who hates evil, how could he be involved in the case of abetting the murder?"

Ma Ningyuan did not answer the questions of these scholars, but asked instead: "Do you know a man named Zhang Daniu? He is a student of your Bailu Academy."

"Zhang Daniu?" Hearing this name, many scholars at the scene were all confused.

"I have the impression that there seems to be such a person in the academy! His skin is dark, he wears coarse linen clothes, his body smells like earth, and there is black mud in his nails that can never be washed off. He has been listening in the academy. Could it be him? What happened?" A scholar recalled for a long time, and finally found the name in his mind.

Ma Ningyuan nodded: "That's right, he led the villagers in Taoyuan Township to prevent the court from clearing the land and killing court officials. Just now, he has confessed, and the confession is directed at your teacher."

"What about the confession? Can you show us?" Hearing what Ma Ningyuan said, the leading scholar didn't dare to repeat it, and his tone softened a lot.

"The confession is in my government office, but you are not worthy to read it, do you know why? I am an official, and you are the people!"

"Aren't you afraid that I will read you a book when I become an official?"

"Let's talk about the future. Now I'm the prefect of Hangzhou, but what about you? You're just useless poor scholars!"

After hearing Ma Ningyuan's words, many scholars present all glared, clenched their fists tightly, as if their eyes were about to burst into flames.

The character of the scholars made them unable to bear such an insult, but due to the identity of the other party's prefect of Hangzhou, no one dared to take any action.

"I warn you, be honest with me during this time, and don't cause me any more trouble. As for your teacher, after the government finds out the truth, he will let him go."

"If you don't listen to my advice and continue to mess around here in the government office, I don't mind taking you all in and locking you up for a few days, so you can taste what it's like to be in prison."

As Ma Ningyuan spoke, his eyes swept over the scholars present one by one.

Sensing the threat implied in Ma Ningyuan's words, although many scholars present were unwilling, they still did not dare to confront the Hangzhou prefect on the spot.

"Let's go, things still need to be discussed in the long run!"

"Yeah, we are here just to make trouble for the teacher."

"Let's go back and discuss countermeasures."

Soon, the scholars gathered in the government office gradually dispersed. Seeing this, Ma Ningyuan turned around and returned to the government office to continue handling official duties.

……

In Fuya's prison, Lu Dongxing was locked in a cell alone.

This cell is different from the cells where ordinary prisoners are kept. There is fresh straw under the bed, and the bedding and other things on the bed are all newly changed, and there is no musty smell.There is a table in the middle of the cell, on which there are clean tea sets, and the warm sunlight shines through the window, making people feel warm.

Lu Dongxing sat quietly on the bed, closed his eyes tightly, and said nothing.He was not so much arrested as he was invited in. Those usually vicious jailers and cell bosses were quite attentive to him, almost reaching the point of responding to every request.

'Da da da! There was a sound of footsteps, and Ma Ningyuan, led by the jailer, entered Lu Dongxing's cell.

There was a warm smile on Ma Ningyuan's face, and he asked earnestly as soon as he entered the door: "I wonder if Mr. Lu is still used to living here? If the prefect's hospitality is not good, please bear with me."

Lu Dongxing, who had kept his eyes closed all the time, opened them, and replied slowly: "Inviting a bad old man like me to the prison as a guest, is this how your Hangzhou prefect treats guests?"

"Old man Lu is serious, and I have some unavoidable reasons!" Ma Ningyuan said, the expression on his face remained the same, it was still the same warm smile as before.

"Oh, tell me, I'm really curious about your difficulties?" Lu Dongxing frowned and said sarcastically.

"I wonder if Mr. Lu knows a man named Zhang Daniu?"

"Zhang Daniu? Who is it? I've never heard of it."

Hearing this name, Lu Dongxing shook his head like a rattle.

"I also know that it is impossible for you, Mr. Lu, to know such a vulgar person!"

After Ma Ningyuan finished speaking, he took out the tea set on the table and poured a cup of tea for each of them.

"Let me tell you secretly, this Zhang Daniu has committed a serious crime!"

Ma Ningyuan reminded in a low voice while pouring tea.

"Oh, what's the big deal?"

Lu Dongxing put on a look of interest, as if all this had nothing to do with him.

"He prevented the court from clearing the land, and led the villagers to beat and kill officials. Do you think this crime is serious enough?"

"This crime is indeed serious, to the point of beheading!"

Immediately afterwards, Ma Ningyuan raised the teacup on the table and gestured to Lu Dongxing: "Please!"

After the two drank the tea in the cup, Ma Ningyuan continued to speak: "Unfortunately, this Zhang Daniu seems to have mentioned your name in his statement. Would you like to see it?"

After Ma Ningyuan finished speaking, he made a gesture to reveal his confession.

"No need, the old man has never known Zhang Daniu before! Please come back, magistrate."

Immediately afterwards, Lu Dongxing issued an order to expel the guests.

"I'm sorry to bother you. If Mr. Lu has any requests, just ask them. Treat this place as your own home!"

Ma Ningyuan chuckled, and then walked out of the cell, leaving only Lu Dongxing with a gloomy expression.

(End of this chapter)