Traveling through the emperor, overthrowing the empress dowager at the beginning

Chapter 556: Shocking Means!

In Longxi County.

Inside the prefect's office.

After Ye Chen finished reading the memorial submitted by Han Wu, his eyes flashed as he turned to Shen Qiu and asked, "Have our people taken over the defense of the county?"

"Reporting to the Lord, we have taken over."

Ye Chen nodded slightly.

Then he looked at Han Wu.

"Han Taishou, please come with me."

Hearing this, although Han Wu felt uneasy, he did not dare to disobey. He could only lower his head and agree, then followed Ye Chen.

The group arrived outside Longxi City.

We arrived directly at Fengzhao County, which had been captured by the Tatar cavalry. As soon as we set foot here, a sense of desolation and ruin hit us.

Broken walls and ruins can be seen everywhere. Most of the houses in the past have been reduced to scorched earth, and only the remaining ruins are still silently telling the story of the disaster that once happened.

The survivors were dressed in rags, with empty and desperate eyes, sitting or lying on the street.

A porridge stall has been set up at the city gate.

Ye Chen lifted the curtains, looked at all this with a deep frown, and flames of anger burning in his eyes.

Wait until the carriage arrives in front of the county government office.

After Ye Chen walked into the county government office.

"Send the county magistrate to see me immediately!"

Ye Chen said in a low voice.

Shen Qiu immediately went to pass on the message, and the local county magistrate Li Zheng, who was originally resettling the victims, hurried back.

"Your Excellency, the Tatars attacked suddenly and fiercely. We didn't have time to close the city gates before they rushed in. The people... are in dire straits."

Hearing this, a hint of doubt flashed in Ye Chen's eyes. He stared at Li Zheng, and his eyes seemed to be able to see through people's hearts. Li Zheng's eyes were a little evasive.

"Where is the commander guarding the city gate? How come you're okay?"

"To answer your Excellency, it was the gatekeepers who failed to close the city gates in time, and it was I, along with the county yamen runners, who held the gates to the sword, that prevented the Tatars from succeeding."

"What I'm asking is, where is the guard?"

Ye Chen asked in a slightly lowered tone.

Upon hearing this, Li Zheng clasped his fists and said, "Your Majesty, the commander has died at the hands of the Tatars."

Ye Chen raised his eyebrows, and his suspicion grew even stronger.

"Han Wu."

Ye Chen suddenly looked at Han Wu, the prefect of Longxi County.

"Your subordinate is here."

"You and the county magistrate will stay in the county office."

Ye Chen immediately stood up and walked out of the county government office.

Upon hearing this, Li Zheng and Han Wu were both stunned.

Li Zheng's face showed obvious anxiety. He wanted to move forward but was blocked by the sword of the imperial guards.

Su Mengjiao, who had been wearing a veil, and Shen Qiu, who was wearing men's clothing, also followed behind Ye Chen.

The three of them wandered around the county town for a while and felt it was dilapidated. Ye Chen asked a few survivors and learned about the brutality of the Tatar soldiers that night. His face was gloomy.

"Emperor, let's stop shopping and go back."

Su Mengjiao saw that Ye Chen looked unhappy, so she said.

"Do not."

Ye Chen shook his head and said.

As he passed by a dilapidated house, he heard bursts of crying coming from inside.

As before, he pushed open the door and saw a mourning hall inside the house with several women and children kneeling on the ground crying.

He found that the house was not small, and the deceased should be a person of status in the city, but strangely, not many people came to burn incense.

Ye Chen felt strange.

After sending someone to inquire, they found out that they were the family of the county commander.

Ye Chen called the guard's wife and asked her some questions. At first, the guard's wife didn't dare to say anything.

Until Ye Chen said that this crime was serious and would bring disaster to the commander's family, so you'd better tell the truth.

Finally, the wife cried out, "Your Majesty, my master has always been loyal to his duties, but that day he was suddenly summoned to the county government office by the county magistrate, and then the Tatars came. I have inquired about it, and it was not my master who was guarding the city at that time, but the nephew promoted by the county magistrate."

Hearing this, a cold light flashed in Ye Chen's eyes and he turned and left the house.

"Go and find the county magistrate's nephew!"

Ye Chen gave the order.

Soon, Shen Qiu brought the news.

"Your Majesty, the nephew has a house in the east of the city. It is said that no Tatar has ever been there."

Shen Qiu's face turned ashen, and he was obviously very angry.

"Let's go there!"

Ye Chen waved his hand and rushed over in a carriage.

"Sir, the Imperial Guards have surrounded the courtyard, and the County Magistrate's nephew, Xie Anning, is among them."

Wait until the carriage stops in front of the house.

When Ye Chen just got off the car.

Shen Qiu immediately stepped forward to report.

Ye Chen nodded slightly and waved his hand, and the imperial guards rushed in like wolves and tigers.

And at this time, in that house.

The county magistrate's nephew, Xie Anning, was gathering his servants and asking them to speak with him. If the imperial envoy came to ask, they must firmly deny anything no matter what.

However, he had just scolded me twice.

Then I saw the imperial guards rushing in.

Xie An Ning was stunned with fear. When he came to his senses and was about to resist, he was restrained by the imperial guards.

When he saw Ye Chen sitting in front of him.

Xie An Ning felt Ye Chen's cold gaze and felt a chill in his heart.

Not long after, County Magistrate Li Zheng received the news and was brought here along with Han Wu.

When Li Zheng saw his nephew tied up, his face turned pale.

"Sir, why...why is this happening? What crime has my nephew committed?"

Li Zheng asked while pretending to be calm.

Ye Chen turned around, his eyes like knives glaring at him. "What crime has he committed? He let the Tatars into the city, causing great suffering to the people of the entire county. Isn't that enough?"

Li Zheng's body trembled, and a trace of panic flashed in his eyes, but he still argued cunningly: "Sir, there must be a misunderstanding. How could my nephew do such a thing? The county gate is under the charge of the garrison commander."

Ye Chen ignored him and looked at Xie Anning who was pinned to the ground: "Tell me, who ordered you to do that?"

Xie Anning clenched his teeth and refused to speak.

Ye Chen's eyes were stern: "Bring me a knife!"

The knife was quickly delivered to Ye Chen.

Ye Chen walked up to Xie An Ning and chopped him off with a knife, chopping off one of his fingers on the spot.

"what!"

Xie Anning screamed in pain.

"Say!"

Xie Anning was terrified.

"You, you, you are abusing lynching!"

Li Zheng roared angrily.

Ye Chen didn't care at all and chopped again.