radicalducati Page 471
Page 471
These people were already terrified, so they dared not disobey and quickly confessed everything they had said and done.
"what are you saying?"
The prefect of Xi'an was both shocked and furious upon hearing this.
"Your Excellency, we confess our crimes. Please arrest us, we beg you."
One person cried out.
"Your Excellency, we confess our crimes. Arrest us, arrest us!"
Others also commented.
Seeing these people begging him to arrest them, the Xi'an prefect felt both angry and absurd.
"Take them all away."
The Xi'an prefect waved his hand and immediately ordered several yamen runners to rush in and arrest these people. To the runners' astonishment, the people showed a relieved expression after being arrested.
"Prefect, what about him..."
One of them approached the Xi'an Prefect and said something, his gaze fixed on Assistant Prefect Yan.
Knowing that Yan Tongzhi was trying to bring down the Xi'an Prefect, he was furious, but still said, "Take him away too. I will submit a memorial impeaching him."
Two more constables stepped forward and pulled up Magistrate Yan.
At this moment, Yan Tongzhi was still shouting as he was being dragged away.
“I am an official of the imperial court. How dare you, a mere commoner, use torture against me? I will take this to the imperial court.”
"I'm going to appeal to the imperial court!!!"
Chapter 640: Immortal Jiang?
"take away!"
Seeing that he still dared to be arrogant, Prefect Zhao ordered his men to take him away. After he was taken away, he looked at Jiang Ning and bowed.
"Hero Jiang, thank you for seeing through their conspiracy. I am very grateful."
"Prefect Zhao, I will not interfere with how these people are dealt with, but I hope that the issue of grain can be addressed as soon as possible."
Jiang Ning didn't stand on ceremony and spoke directly.
It was Zhao, the prefect, who had Li Bo summon him. If it were just about killing these people, there would be no need for such trouble. But the most important thing was to arrange disaster relief as soon as possible. At this time, it was most appropriate to leave such matters to the government. That's why Jiang Ning didn't kill them but handed them over to Zhao, the prefect, for disposal.
Of course, this is also why the current situation is not too bad. At least the Xi'an prefect is still a competent person. If it were a few years ago, when Taiyuan and Pingyang prefectures suffered from drought, and officials and merchants colluded without caring about the lives of the people, then Jiangning would not be in the current situation.
He would kill, from officials to merchants, massacring and wiping out entire families, killing until they were terrified, until they were filled with fear, until they dared not do it again.
"of course."
Prefect Zhao immediately made a guarantee.
"I will not hide it from you, Master Jiang. The reason for raising grain in the past was precisely because these grain merchants hoarded grain. They colluded with each other, and their actions had far-reaching consequences. This caused many obstacles to my work, which delayed the progress of disaster relief. Now that they have been caught, all the grain they hoarded will be confiscated. I will arrange the grain relief immediately."
"Then I'll take my leave."
Jiang Ning didn't say much, turned around and left. His actions, which seemed to have accomplished his task and left without a trace, made Prefect Zhao feel respect.
Seeing that Jiang Ning was about to leave, Li Bo hesitated for a long time before following him out.
"Someone is coming."
After Jiang Ning left, Prefect Zhao immediately called for someone, and Wu Zhe came in.
"Master Futai."
Prefect Zhao ordered, "Interrogate these grain merchants immediately. After obtaining their confessions, send men to confiscate their property and transfer the grain they have hoarded to the disaster-stricken counties."
"Yes."
Wu Zhe accepted the order and withdrew, leaving only his advisors beside Prefect Zhao.
"Your Excellency, Jiang Ning is truly an extraordinary person. He resolved a matter that had caused us so much trouble as soon as he arrived."
"The staff member couldn't help but say."
Prefect Zhao nodded as well.
"He does not seek fame or fortune; everything he does is detrimental to himself. Once the deed is done, he leaves without a trace, concealing his identity and fame. Such an extraordinary person is indeed difficult to understand."
……
Li Bo followed cautiously behind Jiang Ning, glancing ahead every now and then, looking as if he wanted to say something but dared not.
Jiang Ning stopped and turned to look at him.
"Why are you still following me?"
"what?"
Li Bo looked bewildered and asked, "Aren't we going back now?"
"Where are you going back?"
Jiang Ning countered with a question.
“Return to my residence.”
Li Bo said something subconsciously.
"I'm going back to Lantian County now."
Jiang Ning said.
"what?"
Li Bo exclaimed "Ah!" again, then, realizing what he meant, asked in astonishment, "You're leaving?"
"Now that things here are settled, why aren't we leaving?"
Jiang Ning countered with a question.
"This……"
Li Bo didn't know what to say. He used to be a very capable and shrewd person, but in front of Jiang Ning, he seemed like a greenhorn.
Jiang Ning glanced at him and said, "If nothing unexpected happens, we probably won't have any more contact in the future, but I have something to say to you before I leave."
Li Bo quickly straightened up.
"Please speak, Master Jiang. I am all ears."
"Don't make money by dishonest means, or I'll come knocking on your door anytime. When I come back next time, it will be the day you die."
Although Li Bo did his best to help this time, Jiang Ning didn't say anything nice to him or any words of advice to do good. He only gave Li Bo a warning.
Not everyone can be persuaded, nor can everyone suddenly come to their senses. Pleasant words are useless to these people. Only by facing the threat of death can they be kept constantly vigilant. Only by letting them know that a sword is always hanging over their heads and ready to fall at any moment can they restrain their greedy hands.
Sensing the chill in Jiang Ning's words, Li Bo trembled involuntarily and nodded repeatedly, saying, "I will certainly remember Jiang Ning's words and keep them in mind. I will definitely do more good deeds in the future."
Li Bo bowed and nodded as he spoke, but there was no response from the other side. When Li Bo looked up, there was no one in front of him.
At this moment, Li Bo's back was covered in cold sweat.
……
October.
Lantian County.
when!when!when!
A villager climbed a ladder and kept hammering on the roof, wiping the sweat from his forehead from time to time.
"be careful."
His wife gave him instructions from below.
"rest assured."
The man smiled down and then tried to climb down the ladder, but the next second he cried out in pain, slipped, and fell backward.
"what!"
Upon seeing this, the wife immediately screamed in alarm. Just as the man was about to fall heavily to the ground, a figure flashed past and grabbed him.
After realizing what was happening, the wife rushed forward, shouting as she ran.
"Honey!"
The man was still shaken as his feet touched the ground, his heart pounding. It took him a while to calm down before he could reply to his wife.
"I am fine."
After replying to his wife, the man looked at the person next to him with gratitude and said, "Thank you, Immortal Jiang, thank you, Immortal Jiang."
His wife then ran up and thanked the man profusely.
"Thank you, Immortal Jiang, thank you, Immortal Jiang."
Jiang Ning smiled and said, "It's nothing."
After rescuing the man, Jiang Ning left immediately. Not far away were Du Lanyin, Lin Pingzhi, Ying Bailuo, and other Huashan disciples.
Upon seeing Jiang Ning return, Ying Bailuo laughed and said, "Junior brother is really quick. We hadn't even reacted yet, and by the time we were about to go up, junior brother had already saved the villager."
Lin Pingzhi, who was standing to the side, said, "Senior brother's martial arts are superb, so his lightness skill is naturally much faster than ours."
Several Huashan disciples were chatting and laughing when Jiang Ning walked over and said...
"Dear senior brothers and sisters, Junior Brother Lin, the disaster situation in Lantian County has stabilized. The people are rebuilding their houses, and the river embankment has been reinforced. There should be no more floods. We can go back now."
Last month, after Jiang Ning returned to Lantian County from Xi'an Prefecture, Prefect Zhao quickly arranged for grain to be transported to Lantian County, which greatly alleviated the disaster relief pressure in Lantian County. After more than a month of disaster relief, the disaster situation in Lantian County has now stabilized. The next step is to repair houses and address the issues of flooded farmland. These are the problems that the government needs to solve. Not long ago, Prefect Zhao also issued an order to recruit people whose farmland was flooded to participate in the construction projects and roads organized by the imperial court, in order to increase the income of the disaster victims. This is known as work-for-relief.
These were the things the imperial court needed to do, and Jiang Ning and the others could then leave. However, before leaving, Jiang Ning told the disaster-stricken people that if they suffered any injustice in the future, they could go to Mount Hua, and he would come again.
Finally, Jiang Ning and his group left amidst the profuse thanks of the disaster victims in Lantian County.
……
Xi'an Prefecture.
Yue Buqun, who was returning from disaster relief in Hanzhong Prefecture and preparing to go back to Mount Hua, was puzzled as he passed through Xi'an Prefecture.
"Jiang the Immortal? When did a Jiang the Immortal appear in Xi'an Prefecture?"
Chapter 641: Even if you tell a dog, it won't believe you.
Yue Buqun, who had intended to stop and look for his disciple when passing through Xi'an Prefecture, soon discovered that the people of Xi'an Prefecture were talking about a man named Jiang Shenxian. Their expressions were either grateful or fanatical, as if they had been brainwashed.
This displeased Yue Buqun, who thought that a sorcerer was causing trouble in Xi'an Prefecture, using the natural disaster to bewitch the people. However, after finding out the truth, Yue Buqun realized who the Jiang Immortal they were talking about really was.
"So, Immortal Jiang is Jiang Ning's junior brother."
Shu Qi asked in surprise.
The people of Xi'an are now talking about how Jiang Ning, who came down from Mount Hua, has divine abilities. He has eliminated corrupt officials, arrested grain merchants, and saved them from dire straits. He is said to be a god sent down from heaven to save them.
"..."
After understanding the whole story, Yue Buqun was speechless. He then inquired about Jiang Ning's whereabouts and finally learned that Jiang Ning had left for Mount Hua a few days ago.
Since Jiang Ning had already set off, Yue Buqun also set off.
A few days later.
Huashan.
Several months later, Yue Buqun finally returned.
At this time, villagers in several villages near the foot of Mount Hua were also busy with their work. They had also been affected by the flood, but it was not as severe as in other places.
Jiang Ning, who had returned to Mount Hua a few days earlier, went down the mountain to greet Yue Buqun after learning that Yue Buqun had also returned.
"Master."
Jiang Ning cupped his hands in greeting.