Traveling through time and encountering war, I took the whole village to escape famine

At this time, the three members of the Yun family were in a temporary tent in Xiangyun Village, enthusiastically discussing various plans for the future development of the village.

On the other side, Cheng Yuheng, who was regarded as a tool by Yun Duo, sat on the main seat in the lobby of Yanqi City Government Office. Cao Wenzhi, the prefect of Yanqi City, was kneeling on the ground at this moment, but he was completely unaware of the cold ground. He just lowered his head and dared not move at all.

His face was filled with fear, beads of sweat the size of beans rolled down his forehead, and his body was shaking violently uncontrollably.

Recalling a few days ago, the Royal Guards brought envoys to escort the sacred stone back. Because the signed exchange document needed to be presented to the emperor, the envoys only handed the sacred stone to the second prince.

Cao Wenzhi was only concerned with flattering the Second Prince at the time, and did not notice any clues. He and the Second Prince both thought that the sacred stone was exchanged for the entire state and three prefectures of Northeastern State.

Yu Wenci, the confidant of Concubine Yu, the Minister of Rites, was killed on the way and replaced by a disguised "Earth Shadow Guard". According to the plan, "he" was to die accidentally on the way back to Beijing, so that the "Earth Shadow Guard" who disguised himself as Yu Wenci would not be afraid of being discovered after returning to Beijing.

The other three envoys: Song Ci, the Junior Minister of the Honglu Temple, was originally Cheng Yuheng's man. The other two: the Chief Clerk of the Honglu Temple and the Doctor of the Ministry of Rites, were low-ranking officials with little influence, and the Yu family simply disdained to win them over. This time, they were very happy to have the opportunity to serve His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

After seeing off the Second Prince, Cao Wenzhi was secretly delighted. During the Second Prince's stay in Yanqi City, he repeatedly presented him with gold, silver and treasures, and presented him with beautiful women. The Second Prince accepted all of them with pleasure, and took care of the Second Prince meticulously in terms of food, drink and entertainment.

Not only that, in order to ensure that the Second Prince's life in Yanqi City would not be disturbed, he even closed the city gates and implemented extremely strict checks on entry and exit, and would never let the group of refugees enter the city to disturb the Second Prince.

The Second Prince was also quite satisfied with his prefect, and said that after arriving in the capital, he would definitely say a few good words for him in front of his father.

Therefore, he firmly believed that even if he could not be promoted this time, he would be able to stand out in front of the future crown prince. When the second prince ascended the throne, his day of promotion would be just around the corner.

Later, when he learned that the Crown Prince was still alive and well and had been living in Northeast China, Li Jinhuai personally opened the main gate of Yanqi Pass to welcome the Crown Prince back to Beijing.

After hearing this, he was in a state of anxiety and worry all day long, fearing that he would be severely punished for failing to go in time to welcome His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

However, after careful consideration and analysis with his subordinates, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince acted so low-key this time and did not pass through Yanqi City with much fanfare. Perhaps it was because he wanted to avoid the Second Prince's edge?

When he thought of this, the worries in his heart were immediately alleviated a lot, and he gradually became calm.

After all, how could the power accumulated by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, who had disappeared for a full ten years, be compared with that of Concubine Yu and the Second Prince, who are now extremely powerful and at the peak of their powers?

He didn't expect that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince would catch him off guard today. What he didn't expect was that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince did not return to Beijing, but came to Yanqi City.

Behind Cao Wenzhi, other officials from the government office knelt in unison. They were all pale, silent, trembling, and not even daring to breathe. The yamen runners who were usually so majestic now stood aside like frightened birds, their eyes wandering, not daring to look straight ahead.

The atmosphere of the whole scene was extremely solemn, as if a slight breeze could blow away the tense atmosphere.

He kept knocking his head, begging for mercy: "Your Highness, please spare my life. Please forgive me this time! I am also forced to do this. How dare I disobey the Second Prince's order?"

The other officials behind him were also sweating profusely, and they kept begging for mercy: "Your Highness, please forgive me! We are all following the orders of the prefect. It was Cao Zhiwen's idea not to open the city gates. It has nothing to do with us! Please forgive us, Your Highness!"

"Your Highness, please forgive us, my subordinates?"

……

Cheng Yuheng's face was as gloomy as water, and he sat coldly at the top seat. The cold and murderous aura emanating from him seemed to be able to freeze the air around him.

The yamen runners standing on both sides of the hall were silent as a mouse, not daring to even breathe, their hearts filled with fear and awe.

They were fully aware of the dignity and power of this high and mighty man, and dared not offend him in any way, fearing that the slightest carelessness would bring disaster upon themselves.

"Cao Wenzhi, as an official of a region, you should protect the country and the people and benefit the common people. But now you have stopped the people outside Yanqi City and done such a thing that disregards the lives of tens of thousands of people. I think officials like you deserve to die." Cheng Yuheng's voice was low and cold, as if it came from the Nine Nether Hell, which was chilling.

"After saying that, he pointed at the people behind Cao Zhiwen and said, "You are also like this. As officials appointed by the court, you rely on the people for support but don't care about the people's lives. You know it's impossible but still help the tyrant. What use does the court have for you?"

Upon hearing this, Cao Wenzhi kowtowed even harder, and soon his forehead was covered in blood. "Your Highness, Your Highness, I know I was wrong."

"Please spare my life, Your Highness!"

Cheng Yuheng raised his eyes slightly, a trace of disdain flashed in his eyes: "Qiu Shou, pass on this order of the Crown Prince. Yanqi City Prefect Cao Zhiwen has been corrupt and abused the law, and has disregarded the lives of the people. The evidence is irrefutable. Put him and a group of people involved in the case into jail. Cao Zhiwen, wait for your Highness to report to the Emperor before dealing with him. As for the others, the new prefect will personally interrogate them after he takes office, and those who are corrupt and abuse the law will be punished according to the law."

Qiu Shou, who was standing next to Cheng Yuheng, bowed to Cheng Yuheng and said, "Yes, I obey your command."

After Cheng Yuheng gave the order, Qiu Shou pointed at the yamen runners standing on both sides and ordered: "The first five people step out, you take these people to the cell and keep them under strict guard."

"Subordinates take orders!"

The bailiff saluted with his hands clasped together, and then escorted Cao Zhiwen and others to the cell.

Cheng Yuheng ordered the bailiffs below in a cold voice: "Go and bring Yan Kuo back to me."

The two people standing in the front took the order and went out quickly. Not long after, they came to the lobby with a man with messy hair and dirty body. On the way over, the bailiff told Yan Kuo that it was His Royal Highness the Crown Prince who summoned him.

After entering the hall, Yan Kuo knelt on his knees excitedly and sobbed: "Your Highness the Crown Prince, please make the decision for me!" After saying that, he lowered his head and knocked the back of his hands to the ground.

"This prince has already found out that Lord Yan is innocent. From today on, this prince appoints you as the acting prefect of Yanqi City. When this prince's minister comes, I will officially confer you the title of prefect of Yanqi City."

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

"Master Yan, there is no need to be so polite! Get up! Today, His Highness will give you a day off. When you go back and freshen up, you will officially take office tomorrow! All officials in Yanqi City have been taken to prison. When you take office, it will be up to you to decide whether to keep them or punish them."

Yan Kuo didn't expect Cheng Yuheng to give him such great power. He kowtowed three times before he could barely stand up.