Chapter 164 Confusing
Zhao Xing had no idea what was happening in Bianjing.
After getting up the next morning, he practiced martial arts in the yard and had breakfast. Then Shi Jingbo came to ask for a meeting.
"Your Highness, I pay my respects to you!" Shi Jingbo bowed.
Zhao Xing waved his hand and said, "You came here at this time, but have you found any clues?"
"Your Highness, in addition to Magistrate Zhang's family being poisoned, there was also a steward in his family who was in charge of purchasing for the kitchen who was also poisoned to death. After the autopsy, the coroner found that the steward was poisoned by the same poison as Magistrate Zhang's family."
Shi Jingbo looked a little haggard. He had learned about Zhao Xing's assassination last night. Fearing that he would be implicated, he stayed up all night and personally interrogated Zhang's servants.
"So it was the manager who poisoned him, and then he committed suicide out of fear of punishment? Have you found out who ordered it?" Zhao Xing asked.
"I'm still investigating, but according to the servants in Magistrate Zhang's house, the steward was in charge of purchasing for the kitchen and would usually ask the cooks to prepare meals and leave some for him. Therefore, the steward's poisoning could have been an accident." Shi Jingbo said, carefully looking at Zhao Xing's face.
"That means you've been searching all night and haven't found any clues, right?" Zhao Xing said calmly.
"Your Majesty..." Shi Jingbo was a little speechless. After asking more than 20 servants of the Zhang family, it was already dawn.
He was worried that Zhao Xing could not wait any longer, so he had no choice but to come and report the progress.
"I will investigate this matter myself, so you don't have to worry about it. Go back and have a good rest, and then be responsible for measuring the land. If you do a good job, you will be the magistrate of Yangwu County." Zhao Xing said.
As for the consequences of not doing well, Zhao Xing did not say it, but Shi Jingbo understood it.
"Your Highness, I don't need to rest. I will personally take people to measure the land." Shi Jingbo said.
"I am very pleased that County Magistrate Shi has worked tirelessly and performed his duties faithfully. I will wait for your good news." Zhao Xing said lightly.
Shi Jingbo bowed and left with a heavy heart.
As soon as he left, Sanshui said, "Your Highness, Commander Yin is here."
"Let him in." Zhao Xing said.
In order to make it easier for Yin Hanzhang to enter and exit the Eastern Palace, Zhao Xing appointed him as the commander of the Eastern Palace's imperial guards.
"Your Highness, I pay my respects to you!" Yin Hanzhang walked into the room, knelt on one knee, and said, "I failed to find the assassin in time and frightened Your Highness. I am guilty of death."
"I don't want to hear this." Zhao Xing said coldly, "Any clues about the death of Zhang Xiuting's family?"
"Your Highness, according to my investigation, a manager of the Zhang family who was in charge of purchasing also died of poisoning. Before that, the manager owed more than 100 taels of silver to a gambling house in Yangwu County. Apart from that, there was no abnormality in the manager recently. So I checked the situation of the gambling house and found... found..."
"What did you find?" Zhao Xing frowned.
"That gambling house was opened by the Ding family in Yangwu County." Yin Hanzhang said.
"Just tell me everything at once. What is the background of this Ding family?" Zhao Xing asked.
"The Ding family is a branch of Princess Yong's family." Yin Hanzhang said.
"How is it related to Prince Yong again?" Zhao Xing frowned.
He now suddenly felt that the matter was a little confusing.
At first glance, the answer to this question seems to be obvious.
The person he suspected most was Prince Yan, but now all clues point to Prince Yong.
Judging from Prince Yong's series of performances, he is obviously a fool. Such a person should not have the courage to assassinate him.
Could it be that Prince Yan had already made preparations to put the blame on Prince Yong after his failure?
wrong!
Zhao Xing quickly denied this speculation. Judging from the process of the assassination, the person behind the scenes launched it in a hurry. It was impossible for him to think of and implement it in such a short time and put the blame on King Yong.
Could it really be Prince Yong who did it?
Zhao Xing was silent for a while, then said, "You must keep an eye on the movements of Prince Yong's and Prince Yan's mansions. If there is any disturbance, report it in time."
Prince Yong and Prince Yan are both members of the royal family, and without evidence, they cannot be touched.
Even my father wouldn't agree.
"Yes!" Yin Hanzhang bowed and walked out.
"It's becoming more and more interesting." Zhao Xing murmured.
…………
After receiving Zhao Xing's order, Shi Jingbo ordered his men to gather the three shifts of yamen runners from the county government.
According to his original plan, if he reported Zhang Xiuting, he could become the magistrate of Yangwu County.
At that time, he would discuss with the landlords and gentry in Yangwu and ask each family to give him some hidden land.
Because there is not much hidden land, the landlords and gentry will not be punished too severely, so everyone is happy.
Who knew such a thing would happen.
The murder of Zhang Xiuting's family was one thing, but the assassination of the prince would surely have made the emperor furious. Now that the county magistrate is dead, how could he, a county magistrate, bear the emperor's wrath?
Now the only one who can save him is Crown Prince Zhao Xing.
If he wants Zhao Xing to save him, he must show himself.
For the sake of his own life, Shi Jingbo became very ruthless.
He had a general understanding of the situation of hidden fields in Yangwu County, so he directly led people to measure the fields of those families with the most hidden fields.
After hearing the news, those families rushed to find Shi Jingbo and secretly promised him many benefits, hoping that Shi Jingbo would show leniency.
But since it concerned his own life, Shi Jingbo was not willing to do so and directly and impartially refused.
On normal days, even if these landlords and gentry did not dare to confront the government directly, they would use various means to stop it.
But now His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is in the city, how could they have the courage to do that?
In the evening, Shi Jingbo dragged his tired body and took a bus back to the city.
He fell asleep leaning against the carriage halfway through the journey.
The carriage arrived at the county government office. The chief attendant saw that there was no movement and said, "Master, we have arrived at the county government office."
"Hmm..." Shi Jingbo woke up, rubbed his eyes, and got off the carriage.
After some briefing, I met Zhao Xing.
"Your Highness, I pay my respects to you!" Shi Jingbo bowed.
"No need to be polite." Zhao Xing waved his hand and said, "You came to see me, but what progress have you made in clearing the land?"
"Your Highness, today I personally led people to survey the land, and a total of more than 2,200 acres were measured. But there are actually more than 3,100 acres, of which nearly several hundred acres are hidden fields." Shi Jingbo said.
"Well done." Zhao Xing praised, and said, "I heard that many landlords and gentry came to see you. What did they say?"
"They promised me some benefits and wanted me to show mercy when measuring. I did not agree." Shi Jingbo said.
"Very good. I will remember your contribution." Zhao Xing nodded slightly.
"This is my duty. I dare not take credit for it," said Shi Jingbo.
"Those who have made contributions should be rewarded. I know this matter well, so you don't need to say more. I have another thing to entrust to you." Zhao Xing said.
"Your Highness, please give your orders." Shi Jingbo said respectfully.
"You don't have to measure the land tomorrow. Gather all the landlords and gentry in Yangwu and tell them that as long as they check themselves and hand over the hidden land, I will forgive them. If anyone still hopes to get away with it, they will be severely punished after being found out." Zhao Xing said.
Although Zhao Xing wanted to confiscate the property and exterminate the clans of those who hid their land.
In this way, you can not only get a lot of money but also land.
But this simply doesn't work.
Asking landlords and gentry to hand over their hidden land is tantamount to cutting their flesh.
Although it hurts, there are still people willing to hand it over when forced to do so.
However, if it is discovered that anyone has hidden land, their property will be confiscated and their entire family will be exterminated, which will inevitably arouse resistance from landlords and gentry throughout the world.
Therefore, it was impossible for Zhao Xing to really kill these landlords and gentry.
This is also the reliance of landlords and gentry.
If you are honest, stay. If you are not, don’t blame him for being rude.
To put it simply, it means winning over a group and killing a group.
…………
"Your Highness, Your Highness."
Zhao Xing opened his eyes dazedly, looked at Sanshui in confusion, and asked, "What happened?"
"Your Highness, the Duke of Wei is here." Sanshui said.
"Huh?" Zhao Xing was startled when he heard that, then he came to his senses in an instant and said, "Call someone to help me wash up."
Cao An came over at this time, obviously his father had already known the news of his assassination.
When Zhao Xing finished washing up and came out, he saw Cao An and Rong Xian, who looked exhausted.
"Greetings to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince." The two of them bowed.
"No need to be polite." Zhao Xing waved his hand and asked, "Why are uncle and Deputy Commander Rong here?"
"Your Majesty was extremely worried when he learned that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had been assassinated. He specially ordered me to come and escort His Royal Highness back to the capital." Cao An said.
"I still have some things to do, can you wait for two days?" Zhao Xing asked.
"Your Highness, His Majesty's order is to escort Your Highness back to Beijing immediately!" said Cao An.
When Zhao Xing heard this, he knew there was no room for negotiation. Looking at Cao An's attitude, he was afraid that he would tie him up and take him back.
"Uncle, you look exhausted, obviously you haven't had any rest along the way. Uncle, you guys go downstairs and eat something and rest for a while. I'll make some arrangements and then go back with you." Zhao Xing said.
"Yes!" Cao An agreed after a slight hesitation.
After Cao An and his companions left, Zhao Xing asked Sanshui to find Wang Anshi and gave him some instructions.
Someone definitely needs to keep an eye on Yangwu County, and Wang Anshi is the most suitable candidate.
In order to ensure Wang Anshi's safety, Zhao Xing also left Sheng Changwu to lead the imperial guards to protect him.
After daybreak, Zhao Xing and Cao An and their men set out on the journey back to Bianliang under the protection of thousands of imperial guards.
When Cao An came, he traveled day and night. When he left, considering Zhao Xing, he did not travel overnight and only returned to Bian Jing the next afternoon.
After entering the city, he escorted Zhao Xing directly to the palace.
Zhao Xing thought he would be scolded when he met his father and queen.
Unexpectedly, when the emperor saw him, he just excitedly pulled him aside to look at him.
Cao Qin clearly said when he sent someone to report that the prince was fine.
After Cao An met Zhao Xing, he immediately sent someone back to Bian Jing to report the news, but the emperor was still worried.
He didn't feel relieved until he saw with his own eyes that Zhao Xing was safe and sound.
"Father, I am sorry for being unfilial and causing you to worry."
Zhao Xing looked at his father's haggard face and knelt down.
"you…"
The emperor wanted to scold Zhao Xing, but he finally sighed, helped him up, and said, "I'm glad you're okay. Your mother and mother are worried sick. You should go see them."
"I'm going there now. Father, you should have a good rest and don't be too tired." Zhao Xing said.
"Well, go ahead." The official nodded.
Zhao Xing bowed and left.
"Call the director of the Imperial Observatory over here." said the emperor.
(End of this chapter)