Traveling to an ancient peasant family: I got rich by doing business

Tutor Jiang has been in the court for more than 20 years, and this is the first time he has heard people call him a "dog official."

He stared in disbelief.

Han Zheng didn't feel anything. He grew up in Qingshui Village and had heard worse things than this.

Supporting Master Jiang, Han Zheng looked at the old man, "Old man, do you have any grievances to complain about?"

The old man could beat an imperial official without any hesitation at this time. He must be mentally ill or he needs help.

The old man thought that what awaited him next was beatings and imprisonment, but he didn't expect that the facts were completely the opposite of what he imagined.

He was stunned for a moment, looking at Han Zheng in shock: "You..."

Han Zheng said politely, "We came to Jiangfu County not only to provide disaster relief, but also to do other things. Old man, if you have any difficulties, just ask. Lord Jiang and I will definitely help you if we can."

The old man still couldn't believe it.

Han Zheng thought about it and looked at Master Jiang.

Master Jiang nodded, and Han Zheng waved to the soldiers, signaling them to release the old man.

The two officers hesitated.

Han Zheng: "Let this old man go."

The officers and soldiers then released the hands that had bound the old man.

*

The old man finally began to believe that Han Zheng was not a bad official.

He shook his sleeves, looked at Han Zheng, then at Master Jiang, and finally his gaze stopped on Han Zheng.

"Sir..." He said slowly, "Are you telling the truth? Will you really help us?"

Han Zheng nodded.

The old man turned and looked around.

The officers and soldiers accompanying him were afraid that he would beat someone again, so they watched him vigilantly.

The old man looked around and confirmed that there were no people from the government office here. He rushed to Han Zheng and said, "Sir, I know where those sick people were taken. Please save them."

Han Zheng caught the two most important words: "...Old man, do you mean someone is sick?"

The old man was so anxious that tears were about to flow. "Yes, people fell ill a few days after the flood. Later, more and more people fell ill. The county magistrate said he wanted to treat those people, so he sent people to take all the sick people away. My son, daughter-in-law and grandson were among them."

"Isn't it good for patients to get treatment? Especially at this special time." Master Jiang asked, "Why are you acting like this?"

"What a good thing!" The old man couldn't help but swear: "The county magistrate didn't ask the doctor to treat those people. He just locked up those sick people."

Han Zheng, Master Jiang: "......"

"The county magistrate was afraid of an epidemic after the disaster, so he took the sick people away in advance." The old man said, "I heard it from the county yamen runners myself. They said that as long as there is no epidemic after the disaster, those who are sick will die and it won't be a problem."

Master Jiang was extremely shocked: "Are you telling the truth?"

"It's absolutely true." The old man raised his arm and pointed to the sky: "If I tell a lie, I will be struck by lightning and die a miserable death."

Master Jiang: "...Lord Han, what do you think..."

Before he finished speaking, Han Zheng understood what he meant. He was asking him whether he believed it or not.

To be honest, he believes it 70%.

Last night, he met Magistrate Wei, and he did not have a good impression of the man's appearance.

However, judging people by their appearance is biased after all. Han Zheng thought about it, looked at the old man and said, "You said you know where the patient is being held. Can you tell us? We need to see it with our own eyes. If it is true as you said, we will definitely punish the county magistrate."

At this point, there is nothing left to be mentioned. The old man shook his head and said, "I will take you there. I only ask you two adults to save my son and his family of three."

*

The old man was a native of Jiangfu County. He led Han Zheng and his party through many twists and turns, and soon they arrived at an alley not far from the north gate of Jiangfu County.

There were yamen runners standing at the city gate, and all the people passing by would be questioned.

The old man hated these yamen runners so much that he gritted his teeth as he looked at them.

Han Zheng stood by and discussed with Master Jiang how to leave the city.

They could go out openly, but if they did, the bailiffs from Jiangfu County would definitely follow them. They could also dress up before going out, but that would take up too much time.

Tutor Jiang counted the number of officers and soldiers following him, and there were only eight. To be honest, there were too few people, and if something happened, it would be difficult for them to deal with it.

However, even if the officers and soldiers who remained in the county government were included, it was still not enough.

After thinking for a while, Master Jiang asked Han Zheng: "Are your guards still following you in the dark? And what about the guard named Lu Xuan beside you? Why is he not here today?"

Han Zheng: "He went to another place to investigate the situation in the county. As for the other guards, only a few are around us, and the others are far away."

Master Jiang whispered, "How many people are there in total? Can you gather them together in a short time?"

Since he knew there were guards following them secretly, Han Zheng no longer concealed it, "There are twenty of them in total, we can call them all together."

Master Jiang: "They are all experts."

Han Zheng: “Almost.” Their family’s guards followed his second sister-in-law back to the village. Those on his side were all masters sent by Donggong and Mr. Su.

Master Jiang: "Your people plus the ones we brought should be enough. So, you arrange your people, and then we will go out openly. At this time, hiding things will only arouse suspicion."

Han Zheng thought there was no problem and nodded in agreement.

*

The group walked to the city gate openly.

The yamen runners at the city gate greeted Han Zheng and Master Jiang and bowed quickly.

Han Zheng said casually: "I heard that there are disaster-stricken areas outside the city. Lord Jiang and I want to go out and take a look."

The yamen runner was startled and said quickly: "My lords, you are not allowed to leave the city."

Han Zheng raised his eyebrows and said seriously: "What do you mean by that? Is there something outside the city that we can't see?"

The guard shook his head hastily, his tongue tied because he was too nervous: "No... No, it's outside..."

"There are bandits outside." A voice came from behind them. Han Zheng and Master Jiang turned around and saw a middle-aged scholar walking towards them.

Han Zheng had met this man yesterday. He was a legal advisor at the county government office and his surname was Li.

Master Li came over and bowed slightly: "To be honest with you two masters, after the disaster, there are many bandits outside the city, which is particularly dangerous."

"It's okay." Han Zheng said, "We have soldiers with us, so we are not afraid of those bandits."

Master Jiang: "Master Han is right. As an official appointed by the imperial court, how can we be scared away by lawless thieves?"

Master Li: “…”

Upon seeing this, Master Jiang winked at Han Zheng, who understood and said, "Master Li, this official and Master Jiang need the most detailed summary of the disaster in Yunfu County. We'd like to trouble you to prepare it today. We want to see it tonight."

Master Li: "Sir..."

"Okay, stop talking. The morning is almost over and we want to come back for lunch at noon. Don't waste time here." Master Jiang waved his hand in disdain and said to Han Zheng, "Let's go."

Han Zheng immediately stepped forward.

*

The group quickly walked away.

Master Li stood there with a grim expression.

The gatekeeper looked at him timidly and said, "Master Li, do you want to report what happened to the county magistrate?"

Master Li looked at the direction Han Zheng and the others left and said, "Don't report it. Wait a moment."

The man surnamed Jiang just said that they would be back at noon, so they should not have gone too far.

Master Li was comforting himself in his heart, but he didn't know that Han Zheng and his group turned directly after leaving their sight, and then found the place where the patients were imprisoned that they wanted to hide in less than two quarters of an hour.