Being an emperor is not something he can do, so he can only rely on his connections.

Inside the county hall, flickering candlelight illuminated Zhang Jingwei's sullen face. He tapped the table with his fingers, the sound quiet, yet it resonated like thunder in the hearts of the crowd. Once Zhang Jingwei could hear their breathing, he slowly spoke, "Yangxia, Chongzi Pass, Sangshui... Two hundred, two hundred lives! Why did you hide this from me?"

Xiao Kewei's forehead was covered with sweat. He forced himself to remain calm and said, "This... um... maybe it's just a landslide in the kiln, or it could be caused by old age or illness."

"No, no, no," Zhang Jingwei shook his head slowly, a cold light flashing in his eyes, and continued: "I'm not asking how these people died? I'm asking why you kept it from me."

Xiao Kewei bowed, his voice trembling, "Master Zhang, you've been exhausted from the journey. You shouldn't overwork yourself. I handled all of this on my own initiative."

Zhang Jingwei narrowed his eyes, clenched his teeth, and suppressed his anger. "Yes, indeed, a hero, a true hero." He suddenly raised his voice and said, "I'm sure all the officials under your command are grateful to you. After all, you are an official appointed by the court, so I wouldn't dare to do anything to you, right?"

A sharp-nosed, monkey-faced clerk suddenly interrupted, "It's only 200 people. Every year in Gaoyang, there are no fewer than a thousand people dying of old age or disease!"

Zhang Jingwei was stunned at first, then burst into laughter. "You...hahahaha, you fucking..." He took a deep breath, suppressing the pain on the tip of his tongue, and spoke word by word. "It's really like an old lady crawling into bed and making me laugh. Among the 200 people, there are no parents or relatives? You can say such beastly things. It seems that the beast is growing more and more like a human."

The clerk's face flushed red, and he stiffened his neck and said, "My Lord, your insulting me is against public morals."

Zeng Yong also took the opportunity to attack: "Sir, I haven't asked you why you called us here so late at night? If you ask something irrelevant, I have to go back to take care of my wife and children."

A cold light flashed in Zhang Jingwei's eyes, and he shouted sternly: "Mu Tou, close the door!"

Mu Mu stepped out with a thud, his heavy footsteps shaking the ground slightly. He extended his arms, and the two heavy doors of the yamen slammed shut with a bang, the copper locks clicking into place.

The clerk panicked: "You! What do you mean, Master Zhang?"

Zhang Jingwei grabbed the gavel and slammed it down. A loud bang echoed in the silent county hall.

"This officer is reviewing the case tonight!"

The bang of the gavel made the entire room pale. Xiao Kewei stumbled back two steps, and Zeng Yong's legs gave out, nearly collapsing to the ground. Only Huang Liang remained upright, a flicker of approval in his eyes.

Zhang Jingwei slowly stood up, his official robe gleaming coldly in the candlelight. He looked around at everyone and spoke in a low, commanding voice:

"If you are not a student, kneel down!"

Everyone in the hall looked at each other, and their eyes turned to Xiao Kewei at the same time, waiting for his instructions.

Mu Tou's eyes widened with rage upon seeing this. He rushed to Xiao Kewei in one swift step and kicked him hard on the calf. "Kneel down! Kneel down!" He pointed at the other officials and shouted, "Kneel down!"

Huang Liang stepped forward and said, "Sir, although I am of humble status, I am also a scholar from Gaoyang. This kneeling punishment..."

"It can be exempted according to the law!" Zhang Jingwei interrupted firmly.

A clerk bravely shouted, "Sir, we are all Gaoyang yamen runners. What you are doing is illegal!"

"Then let me show you what 'law' means!" Zhang Jingwei sneered, took out the official seal from his bosom, and stamped it heavily on a piece of white paper.

He held up the white paper with the official seal on it: "See? This! This is the law!"

Zeng Yong's face turned pale and he stammered, "You...you dare..."

"Left and right!" Zhang Jingwei gave an order.

Qian Ming and Mu Tou answered in unison: "Yes!"

"Strip off their official uniforms and white robes!"

"Yes!"

The two men moved swiftly, stripping everyone's shirts in no time. Xiao Kewei's official uniform was torn to shreds, and Zeng Yong was pinned to the ground with a piece of wood, his belt ripped off.

Huang Liang stood aside, watching this scene, a complex look flashing in his eyes. He had not expected the newly appointed county magistrate to be so decisive.

Zhang Jingwei looked coldly at the group of disheveled officials and said in a chilling voice, "Do you know what the law is now? Today, I will make you understand who is the true law in Gaoyang County!"

Huang Liang stepped forward and presented a yellowed case file with both hands: "Sir, I have something to report!"

Zhang Jingwei's eyes flashed like lightning: "Speak!"

"As a prefect, I investigated a private kiln case last October." Huang Liang flipped open the case file and pointed to the inscription in red. "This private kiln not only stole from the government mine, but also adulterated low-quality saltpeter with government goods. However..." He paused, looking around. "The case involved the chief clerk and several other officials, so we had to put it on hold due to pressure."

Before he finished speaking, the room erupted in uproar.

"Your Excellency, be wise!" The warehouse clerk was the first to jump out, pointing his finger at Xiao Kewei's nose and cursing, "Last year, Chief Secretary Xiao forced me to mix sand into the disaster relief grain, and he sold all the withheld grain to the grain merchants!"

The tax collector also knelt down and said, "Master Xiao asks us to add 30% of our 'hard work fee' every month, saying that it's to pay the higher-ups in Yunzhou!" He pulled out a secret account book from his sleeve and said, "This is the account I secretly kept. Please take a look, sir!"

Xiao Kewei's face was ashen, but he suddenly burst into hysterical laughter: "Hahaha, what a group of loyal ministers and righteous men! When we divided the silver, which one of you didn't kneel down and call me grandpa?"

"You are slandering me!" The household clerk was so angry that he was shaking all over. "Last year, I refused to help you forge a land deed, and you beat me with thirty sticks in public in the court!" As he said this, he was about to lift up his robe to show the scar.

Zhang Jingwei slammed the gavel, and the hall fell silent. He looked at Xiao Kewei coldly: "Now, what else do you have to say?"

Xiao Kewei suddenly pounced on Huang Liang: "It's all your fault, you traitor!" But he was kicked to the ground by Mu Tou.

Zhang Jingwei slowly walked up to Xiao Kewei and looked down at him condescendingly. "Master Xiao, I'm questioning those two hundred lives. As for these cases of corruption and abuse of power..." He turned to look at Huang Liang, "Dianshi Huang, you will continue the thorough investigation."

Huang Liang bowed solemnly: "I obey your orders!"

Xiao Kewei collapsed to the ground, then suddenly laughed nervously, "Master Zhang, you have a good plan... But don't forget, the fact that everyone in Gaoyang can now eat is also due to my hard work... There are only two hundred people. If I hadn't given them food, they would have starved to death."

Zhang Jingwei sneered and looked down at him condescendingly: "Haha...as the chief clerk, isn't this what you're supposed to do? And you still have the nerve to boast about your achievements."

Xiao Kewei struggled to stand up, a fierce look in his eyes: "Master Zhang, you are going to be criticized for crossing the river and destroying the bridge like this! What's more, the three major families in Gaoyang are all my people!"

"Oh?" Zhang Jingwei smiled instead of getting angry, and slowly walked over to Xiao Kewei. "Are you trying to use this to challenge me?" He suddenly raised his voice. "Three major families...ridiculous! It's just a county!"

Everyone in the hall held their breath in concentration as Zhang Jingwei spoke word by word, "In Yunzhou, all those young masters from the aristocratic families are my younger brothers. My father-in-law is the commander-in-chief of Yunzhou. The governor of Yunzhou is my teacher. In the north, my background is so great that it's beyond belief. Do you believe it?"

Xiao Kewei's face turned pale and blue, and suddenly he grinned: "Haha, let's try it then." As he said that, he put his hands behind his back and swaggered towards the classroom of the county government office.

Seeing this, Mu Tou was about to step forward to stop him, but Zhang Jingwei raised his hand to stop him, "Let him go." He turned to Huang Liang and said, "Dianshi Huang, take people to search and confiscate Xiao Kewei's residence immediately."

Huang Liang was about to respond when Xiao Kewei suddenly turned around and said sinisterly, "Master Zhang, think carefully. If you touch me, Gaoyang's granaries, taxes, and grain transport will all be in chaos."

Zhang Jingwei calmly straightened his official robes. "Master Xiao, you're worrying too much." He glanced around the court. "My colleagues, who would like to take over the position of Master?"

As soon as the words fell, several people stepped forward at the same time: "Humble officials are willing to help you share your worries!"