The Three Kingdoms: I asked you to save Guan Yu, not to destroy Sun Quan.

Seeing the Han army charging towards them, the people below the platform panicked and began to push and shove each other as they scattered and fled.

We had no choice but to run. These days, government troops are even more ruthless than bandits. Who knows what kind of people the Han army is?

Fearing a stampede, Ji Jie quickly shouted, "Fellow villagers, listen to me! The Han army is the army of the King of Hanzhong. It is a righteous army and will not bully us common people. Everyone, stay where you are and don't move. I'm going to negotiate with the Han army."

Upon hearing this, the common people stopped in their tracks. Ji Jie then untied himself and walked toward the Han army, shouting at the yamen runners on the platform, "The Han army has entered the city, what are you all standing there for? If you don't want to die, squat down and surrender!"

The constable did as he was told, but Zhu Hong roared angrily, "Ji Jie, you traitor, how dare you surrender to the enemy! Kill this traitor for me, and then come with me to kill the enemy!"

He kept saying he was charging forward, but his body was moving backward, trying to trick the constables into fighting the Han army while he hid in the back and slipped away in the chaos.

He had no choice but to leave, for his enemy Xie Chong was coming, and if he fell into Xie Chong's hands, he was finished.

Therefore, he had to escape. Once he was out of the city, Xie Chong would be unable to do anything to him.

The idea is good, but can Ji Jie make it happen?

Ji Jie jumped onto the platform and punched him in the eye socket, knocking him down. He then mounted him and shouted at the constables, "Brothers, don't be impulsive. Surrendering to the Han army is not shameful. Think about your parents, wives, and children. What will they do if something happens to you?"

The constables, who had already stood up, squatted down again, while Zhu Hong, who was seeing stars from the beating, angrily cursed, "Ji Jie, you bastard! How dare you betray your lord and surrender to the Han army?"

Ji Jie punched him again, saying sarcastically, "Why do I feel so disgusted listening to you talk?"

After he finished speaking and clenched his fist, before he could continue, someone shouted, "I am Xie Chong, a subordinate of General Guan Yu. Everyone, immediately put your hands on your heads and squat down. Anyone still standing after three breaths will be attacked."

Upon hearing this, the people squatted down one after another. Ji Jie also withdrew his arm and shouted loudly, "General Xie Chong, I am Ji Jie, the county magistrate of Wushang. I am willing to surrender to the Han army. The person under me is the county magistrate Zhu Hong."

The name Zhu Hong ignited Xie Chong's fury instantly. He instinctively wanted to draw his sword and kill this beast, but he suppressed his impulse with reason and said coldly, "County Commandant Ji, is it? I accept your surrender on behalf of General Guan. Please help evacuate the people, County Commandant Ji."

Ji Jie politely declined, saying, "This humble servant dares to ask the general to allow the people to stay here, and also to uphold justice for the people of Wushang and to try and execute the corrupt official Zhu Hong."

"General, you may not know this, but during Zhu Hong's tenure, he fabricated countless false cases and colluded with bandits to create banditry. He then petitioned Lord Wu for money and supplies to suppress the bandits while ordering the bandits to plunder the people. His crimes are too numerous to count. I beg you, General, to see the truth."

He hated Zhu Hong more than the common people, and he knew from Xie Chong's initial shout that the two had a feud, so how could he not make good use of it?

Furthermore, the wooden platform beneath his feet was built by Zhu Hong to kill him. How satisfying it would be to turn the tables and kill Zhu Hong on this platform.

Zhu Hong's expression changed drastically, and he shouted urgently, "Ji Jie, you're talking nonsense! It's clearly you who colluded with the bandits!"

Just as Ji Jie was about to object, Xie Chong said, "Then let's do as you say and hold a public trial here to shut him up. I don't want to hear his nagging."

Ji Jie pulled off Zhu Hong's socks, crumpled them into a ball, and stuffed them into his mouth. He then took out Zhu Hong's belt and tied his hands and feet before standing up and bowing to Xie Chong.

Xie Chong grabbed his arm and said, "Come on, let's go greet Commander Guan first."

After saying that, he pulled Ji Jie towards Guan Xing, who was rushing over, and bowed to Guan Xing to report the situation.

After listening to his report, Guan Xing walked up to the high platform, faced the people, and shouted: "Fellow villagers of Wushang, I am Guan Xing, the second son of General Guan Yu."

"There's no time like the present. Since we've set up this platform and everyone's here, I, the captain, will be on the spot to help you appeal your grievances. If you've been bullied by corrupt officials or persecuted by landlords and bullies, you can all file a complaint with me, and I'll stand up for you."

Before the people could react, Ji Jie impatiently shouted, "Ji Jie, the county magistrate of Wushang, greets Commandant Guan. This humble servant is hereby filing a complaint against Magistrate Zhu Hong..."

Zhu Hong wanted to explain, but like Ji Jie before him, he was bound hand and foot and gagged, unable to utter a single word.

Guan Xing glanced at him and asked, "You're County Commandant Ji, right? Where are the County Assistant and the Registrar?"

Ji Jie replied, "Reporting to the Commandant, the positions of County Magistrate and Registrar are temporarily vacant. Currently, the county government only has two officials, myself and Zhu Hong. This wooden platform was built by Zhu Hong to execute me. If you had arrived any later, I would not have been able to see you."

Guan Xing asked in surprise, "Although the county lieutenant is a minor official, he is still an official appointed by the imperial court. How can a mere county magistrate be executed at will?"

Ji Jie said with a bitter smile, "According to the laws of the Han Dynasty, Zhu Hong indeed has no right to kill me, but he comes from the Zhu family of Wu Commandery. Killing a mere county magistrate like me is a piece of cake for him."

Guan Xing remained silent. In principle, that was indeed the case, but the gentry never acted according to principles.

He pondered for a moment and said, "Ji Jie, since you are the county magistrate, please go back to the county office and bring over the case files of Zhu Hong's crimes during his tenure, as well as all the defendants in prison. I will re-examine them here. Xie Chong, you will accompany County Magistrate Ji."

"Look..." Ji Jie was overjoyed and led Xie Chong towards the county government office.