bullyxtreme Chapter 84 Threat
Chapter 84 Threat
Looking at Du Heng in front of him, Zhu Zhicheng didn't dare to move.
He didn't expect that Li Chong could actually capture the person, and he was even more surprised that these bandits were so useless!
Yes, it's just trash.
With an inside accomplice and saboteurs among the officers and soldiers, Du Heng and Deng Meng not only suffered a defeat, but were also captured.
Li Chong was just a scholar-official county magistrate. How could he have achieved such results with a bunch of rabble?
There's no other explanation than that his opponents were a bunch of useless idiots.
Despite the criticism, Zhu Zhicheng still faced a fatal problem: Du Heng, who had been captured alive.
Given Li Chong's methods, what if Du Heng betrays him to save his own life?
The common people can't fight against the officials. Is his huge family fortune just going to end up benefiting others?
For the first time, Zhu Zhicheng felt fear, so he hesitated and prayed that Du Heng hadn't seen him.
But reality did not allow him to escape.
"Why don't you go up and pay your respects, Uncle?" Xue Ming appeared beside Zhu Zhicheng at some point and asked with a smile. "The magistrate has finally captured this group of bandits who have been ravaging the village. You should at least pay your respects to him to show your admiration."
Zhu Zhicheng turned around and exclaimed, "Wen Zhao? You... when did you get here? And what about you...?"
In Zhu Zhicheng's memory, Xue Ming, who came from a wealthy family, should have always been a spotless, clean and respectable person.
But now, Xue Ming was disheveled, with a few weeds on his head, only his eyes were unusually bright.
"I went into the mountains with the county magistrate a few days ago and only came out today. There may be some things I have concealed, so please forgive me, Uncle."
Xue Ming bowed with a smile, his manner impeccable.
Zhu Zhicheng suddenly realized something. He looked around and saw that many of the people in the bustling crowd were not government officials, but rather members of the Xue family.
With a forced laugh, Zhu Zhicheng praised, "My nephew is indeed a promising young man, much better than my good-for-nothing son. That bandit leader looked so fierce; I'm too old to bear looking at him. I'll trouble you to apologize to the magistrate on my behalf."
Xue Ming felt a surge of pleasure as he watched the old man being so cautious in front of him.
In the past, Zhu Zhicheng was always a man of his word; he had never been so easy to talk to before.
He was even aggressive when talking to his father, Xue Tao, let alone to his junior, Xue Ming.
But today, this old man acted out of character, claiming to be old and even calling me "my dear nephew," which made Xue Ming chuckle inwardly.
"Uncle, you flatter me," Xue Ming said with a smile. "That bandit leader may look fierce, but he's already a prisoner. What's there to be afraid of? Look, the county magistrate saw that you wouldn't go over, so he sent Erlang with his men. Who else in Yanggu County would show such respect, Uncle?"
Zhu Zhicheng's expression suddenly changed, and he subconsciously lowered his head: "How could I dare to trouble the county magistrate?"
Li Chong waved his hand: "No need for that, no need for that. People often say, 'Wealth and honor without returning home is like wearing brocade at night.' I just wanted to show off to you, sir, after catching the ringleader. Please forgive my selfishness."
Zhu Zhicheng naturally dared not say anything more and could only echo his sentiments.
"Erlang, bring him closer so the old man can see him clearly!"
Li Chong called out to Wu Song, and Du Heng was brought in front of the group.
Du Heng, who was like a little chick in Wu Song's hands, was originally dejected and trembling as he thought about how he would die.
The news of Deng Meng's death left him with no hope of survival; he racked his brains trying to figure out how to save his own life.
Li Chong ordered him to be put on display like a monkey, so he could only try his best to please others and present himself in order to get better treatment.
But when Du Heng saw the person in front of him clearly, he became excited.
Confessing to accomplices can obviously greatly reduce one's punishment. Even if it doesn't save one from the death penalty, it can at least earn one a better treatment before death, right?
Moreover, there is an even darker motive.
Du Heng's life is in danger, while Zhu Zhicheng, their collaborator, is still living a life of immense wealth, enjoying vast tracts of fertile land and a large retinue of servants. How can anyone feel at peace with that?
Therefore, even if it was out of a desire to drag others down with him, Du Heng had to implicate Zhu Zhicheng.
"My lord! I must report this Zhu fellow..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Du Heng could no longer continue.
Wu Song grabbed his mouth and stuffed it with something, leaving Du Heng making muffled "ooh ooh ooh" sounds, unable to utter a single word.
In an instant, Zhu Zhicheng's mood plummeted from heaven to earth, and he couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief.
But soon, his heart was in his throat again.
What does Li Chong mean by this? Why is he stopping Du Heng from continuing?
Li Chong didn't look at Zhu Zhicheng, but waved his hand at Wu Song: "This scoundrel is spouting nonsense again. I'll cut out his tongue one of these days! Erlang, take him away and keep a close watch on him, don't let him escape."
"Yes."
Wu Song agreed in a deep voice and left with the man in his arms.
Watching Du Heng leave, Li Chong turned to Zhu Zhicheng and smiled, "I'm sorry to have made you laugh, old man. Although the bandit leader has been caught, he's still unwilling to give up and is making a fuss, falsely accusing people. Isn't that infuriating?"
That's infuriating, absolutely infuriating!
Zhu Zhicheng cried out in his heart.
But in front of Li Chong, he could only force a smile and say, "The thief knows his death is near and he's just desperate. Your Excellency, please don't pay him any mind."
As he stepped forward, Li Chong casually replied, "Some things are naturally none of my business, but these bandits have plagued Yanggu for years and must know a lot of secrets, so we should interrogate them carefully."
Stopping in his tracks, Li Chong stared at Zhu Zhicheng and asked, "What does Grandfather think?"
Zhu Zhicheng looked extremely unnatural, but still forced himself to meet Li Chong's gaze: "In my humble opinion, these bandits are already at their wits' end. In order to survive, they would probably dare to falsely accuse anyone. Your Excellency should not believe them."
"Hmm, that makes sense." Li Chong nodded slowly. "What if that person was falsely accusing the old man?"
Zhu Zhicheng's expression changed drastically: "Your Excellency, please understand! My Zhu family has always been honest and upright. We usually build bridges and roads and do charity work. How could we possibly collude with bandits? That bandit leader is just trying to buy time so that he can live a few more days. Your Excellency, please don't be fooled!"
"Hahaha."
Li Chong turned and stepped forward: "Grandpa, don't panic. I was just joking. We've been fighting in the mountains for so many days, and the pressure must be quite great. Please don't take offense, Grandpa."
Don't take offense? Zhu Zhicheng is so angry he could eat Li Chong alive.
But now, he can only force a smile and say against his will that he doesn't mind.
The group walked into the manor, and the initiative quietly shifted to Li Chong.
Zhong Mei followed Li Chong, watching him and the others intimidate Zhu Zhicheng, her eyes crinkling with laughter.
"It's more satisfying to see him full of evil schemes than to kill this old dog."
She quickly caught up with Li Chong, wanting to see what other ways Li Chong could punish Zhu Zhicheng.