Transmigrating to the Song Dynasty: Water Margin Business Management

The prefect finally regained his composure, cleared his throat, and said, "Bring all the relevant witnesses to me."

Soon, several witnesses were brought in, each one trembling with fear, heads bowed, not daring to speak.

The prefect slammed his gavel and asked loudly, "Tell me, all of you, how did Lin Chong forcibly seize that land?"

The first witness stammered, "Sir, I...I saw Lin Chong standing on that ground that day."

The prefect frowned: "Standing? Just standing is considered illegal occupation?"

The second witness quickly said, "Sir, I've heard that Lin Chong has long coveted that land."

The prefect scratched his head: "I heard? Does hearing count?"

The third witness spoke tremblingly: "Sir, I think I saw Lin Chong gesturing a few times on the ground."

The prefect's eyes widened: "A few gestures and you call that forcible occupation? What nonsense are you spouting!"

Chai Jin sneered from the side: "Sir, your trial is utterly absurd! You can convict Instructor Lin based on these ambiguous statements?"

The prefect smiled awkwardly: "Lord Chai, don't worry, I'm still conducting the trial."

He then turned to the witnesses: "Think about it again, do you have any more conclusive evidence?"

The witnesses looked at each other and shook their heads.

The prefect slammed his gavel again in anger: "A bunch of useless idiots!"

At this moment, Lu Qianhou stepped forward and said, "Sir, Lin Chong had a dispute with the owner of that land before."

The prefect seemed to have grasped at a straw: "Oh? There's a dispute? Tell me what happened quickly."

Lu Qianhou said, "Lin Chong said that the land has good feng shui and wants to take it for himself."

The prefect nodded: "Hmm, that's a reason."

Song Jiang couldn't help but say, "Sir, what kind of reason is this? You can convict someone just because of good feng shui?"

The prefect hesitated again: "This...this doesn't seem quite right either."

The prefect paced back and forth in the courtroom, muttering to himself, "Oh dear, what should we do? If we say he's guilty, the evidence isn't enough; if we say he's innocent, we won't be able to explain it to Lord Lu."

Li Kui shouted from the side, "What's so difficult about this? Just release Instructor Lin!"

The prefect glared at Li Kui: "You black bastard, all you do is shout nonsense. I know what I'm doing."

Chai Jin said, "Sir, you must be careful not to wrong an innocent person."

The prefect said with a bitter face, "I know, I know."

Suddenly, the prefect's eyes lit up, and he said, "How about this, let's ask that piece of land and see who it wants to belong to."

Everyone was stunned. Chai Jin said, "Sir, are you perhaps confused? The earth can't speak."

The prefect smiled awkwardly: "Oh dear, I was just in a hurry."

He thought for a while and said, "Then we'll decide by drawing lots. If Lin Chong draws the long lot, he'll be guilty; if he draws the short lot, he'll be innocent."

Song Jiang said, "Sir, this is too absurd. How can a case be judged like this?"

The prefect said helplessly, "Then what do you suggest we do? I really can't think of a solution."

Just then, a yamen runner ran in and whispered a few words in the prefect's ear.

The prefect's expression changed drastically: "What? Lord Gao Qiu has intervened in this matter?"

Chai Jin said, "Gao Qiu? Could it be that Gao Qiu is behind this case?"

The prefect quickly waved his hand: "No, no, Lord Gao Qiu is just concerned about the case."

Chai Jin snorted coldly: "I don't think it's that simple."

The prefect was completely at a loss and said, "What should we do? Why don't we just find Lin Chong guilty?"

Chai Jin was furious: "My lord, how dare you!"

The prefect trembled in fright: "Then...then I'll think about it again, I'll think about it again."

After a while, the prefect said, "How about this, lock Lin Chong up first, and I will investigate further."

Chai Jin said, "Sir, how long are you going to drag this out?"

The prefect said, "Lord Chai, please give me some more time."

Chai Jin said, "Alright, then I'll wait a few more days. If you still don't give Instructor Lin justice, I will not let this go."

The prefect nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, yes, definitely, definitely."

Everyone shook their heads helplessly at the prefect's absurd behavior.

Seeing that the prefect couldn't solve the case and Lin Chong had suffered a lot, Li Kui angrily said, "You good-for-nothing! How much did you pay for this position? I don't think you're fit for it. Let me take this position!"

Just as Song Jiang was about to say, "You black bastard, stop causing trouble!", Li Kui had already kicked the prefect off his chair.

Li Kui sat down in the prefect's seat with an air of nonchalance, his large, bell-like eyes scanning the crowd below.

"Tell me, all of you, what exactly happened?!" Li Kui roared.

Lu Qianhou stepped forward tremblingly and said, "Sir, the evidence of Lin Chong's forced occupation of land is conclusive."

Li Kui slammed his fist on the table. "What evidence? Show it to me!"

Lu Yuhou took out a document from his pocket and handed it to Li Kui. Li Kui took it, looked at it from left to right, but couldn't recognize a single word.

"Read this to me, what does this nonsense say?" Li Kui threw the document at Lu Qianhou.

Lu Qianhou cleared his throat and began to read. But before he could finish a few sentences, Li Kui impatiently interrupted, "Stop rambling! Get to the point!"

Lu Yuhou could only give a brief summary of the document's contents.

Li Kui frowned and asked, "That's it? This can be considered evidence? I think you're making it all up!"

At this moment, a witness stepped forward and said, "Sir, I saw Lin Chong pointing and gesturing on that piece of land with my own eyes."

Li Kui sized up the witness and asked, "Did you really see it? Dare to swear? If you're lying, I won't let you off the hook!"

The witness trembled at Li Kui's imposing presence, hesitated for a moment, and said, "Sir, I... I might have seen wrong."

Li Kui snorted: "I knew you were talking nonsense!"

He turned to Lin Chong and asked, "Instructor Lin, tell me what exactly happened?"

Lin Chong clasped his hands and said, "Brother Li, I am innocent. That piece of land was never mine, and I never intended to seize it."

Li Kui nodded and said, "I trust Instructor Lin's character."

He then looked at the crowd and said, "Although I am impulsive, I know that I cannot wrong an innocent person when solving a case. There is clearly something fishy about this case. You all need to think carefully about what other evidence you have. If you dare to conceal anything, my axe will not be blind!"

Everyone was too frightened to utter a sound.

Li Kui pondered for a moment and said, "Go and find all the neighbors around that piece of land. I want to ask them about the situation."

Soon after, several neighbors were brought to the courtroom.

Li Kui asked, "Tell me, did Lin Chong forcibly seize that land?"

The neighbors looked at each other, none of them daring to speak.

Li Kui shouted, "Don't be afraid, I'm here. Tell the truth, and I'll stand up for you!"

Finally, a bold neighbor said, "Sir, Lin Chong never forcibly occupied that land. It was Lu Qian who wanted to seize it and framed Lin Chong."

Upon hearing this, Li Kui's eyes widened in anger, and he pointed at Lu Qianhou, cursing, "You treacherous villain, how dare you frame Instructor Lin! I'll teach you a lesson!"

Lu Yuhou was so frightened that he collapsed to the ground and begged for mercy repeatedly.

Li Kui said, "Guards! Lock this Lu Qianhou up and interrogate him thoroughly. And lock up all those who gave false testimony as well!"

Subsequently, Li Kui announced that Lin Chong was innocent and released.

Lin Chong was moved to tears and said to Li Kui, "Brother Li, I can't thank you enough for such a great kindness."

Li Kui laughed heartily: "Instructor Lin, we're all brothers, no need to be so polite."

The crowd below watched Li Kui solve the case. Although his methods were simple and crude, they were also meticulous despite their roughness, and he gave Lin Chong justice.

After Li Kui finished his interrogation, he made all the men sign their confessions in court. He then said to the prefect, "These men have all confessed. Arrest Yin Tianxi as well."

At this moment, Yin Tianxi said to Li Kui, "You dare to arrest me? You've got some nerve! Let me tell you, I'm the grandson of the nephew of the Empress's cousin's third aunt."

Upon hearing such a convoluted relationship, Li Kui said, "What nonsense are you spouting? I don't care who you are. If you're not satisfied, I'll beat you until you have diarrhea!"

Yin Tianxi's face turned bright red as he shouted, "You black bastard, how dare you be so disrespectful to me! I'll make you regret this!"

Li Kui laughed heartily: "I, Tie Niu, am not afraid of you. Show me what you've got!"

Seeing that Li Kui showed no fear, Yin Tianxi felt a little uneasy, but he still tried to remain calm: "Wait here, I'll go get reinforcements right away!"

After saying that, he turned to leave, but Li Kui would not let him leave so easily. He rushed forward, grabbed Yin Tianxi by the collar, and dragged him back like a chick.

"Trying to run? Not so easy!" Li Kui shouted.

Yin Tianxi was so frightened that his legs went weak, and he stammered, "Hero, spare my life! Hero, spare my life!"

Li Kui glared at him: "Now you know how to beg for mercy? Too late!"

At this moment, the prefect said from the side, "Sir Li, Yin Tianxi does have some background after all. Perhaps we should reconsider our options..."

Li Kui glared and said, "What nonsense about taking it slow! Once I, Tie Niu, have a case to settle, there's no turning back!"

Song Jiang stepped forward and advised, "Brother Tie Niu, don't act impulsively. This matter needs to be handled properly."

Li Kui said, "Brother, this kind of villain, if we don't teach him a lesson, he won't know how powerful I am!"

Just as everyone was at a stalemate, someone suddenly came to report: "Lord Gao Qiu has arrived!"

Everyone was startled as Gao Qiu, accompanied by a retinue, strode into the courtroom with great pomp and circumstance.

Gao Qiu glanced at Li Kui and said coldly, "How dare you, Li Kui, cause such a ruckus here!"

Li Kui, undaunted, said, "Old man Gao Qiu, this Yin Tianxi has committed numerous evils. What's wrong with me judging the case and arresting him?"

Gao Qiu snorted: "Stop talking nonsense, release them at once!"

Li Kui gripped his axe tightly and gritted his teeth, saying, "I won't let go! No one can plead for me today!"

The atmosphere in the courtroom instantly became extremely tense...