Chapter 205: Ambush from All Sides (Part 2)

Nanjun Assistant (Deputy Mayor) Zong Rui stood at the door, followed by four commandery officials.

Liu Zhao glanced at the Prison Assistant standing beside Zong Rui. The Prison Assistant immediately put on a bitter face, pretending to be trembling and lowering his head, thinking to himself that this is the commandery prison, and the person is the commandery deputy, even if I want to stop him, I can't! Besides, you are the principal and the deputy, if the principal is a member of the gentry and the deputy is a commoner, that's fine, but it happens to be reversed, what am I supposed to do caught in the middle...

Liu Zhao said with a cold face: "Commandery Assistant Zong, this official is interrogating a major criminal. You breaking in directly like this is not in accordance with the rules, right?"

Although Zong Rui is the son of Zong Ce, his personality is completely opposite to his father's jumping and scattered nature. He is dignified, cautious, and prestigious. His subordinates are all respectful and fearful in front of him, and dare not be slightly disrespectful. At this time, being questioned by his superior, he didn't speak, just stared at the iron pliers in Liu Zhao's hand, watching coldly. Although he didn't say a word, an invisible pressure spread out.

Liu Zhao put the iron pliers back on the torture case as if nothing had happened. The young legal official couldn't hold back and said: "The Commandant is just bluffing, and doesn't mean to really use torture."

Zong Rui's cold gaze shot at the legal official like a cold star: "Since it is a bluff, why do you need to explain it?"

The legal official felt his heart tremble when pricked by Zong Rui's gaze. He opened his mouth to defend himself, but met Zong Rui's awe-inspiring eyes, and couldn't help but feel a little guilty, and worried that the more he described, the darker it would get, so he swallowed the explanation. But after swallowing, he regretted it a little. If he just gave up like this, would the Commandant think he was incompetent? But if he continued to argue, what if he ruined the Commandant's affairs instead? That would be terrible! But can the Commandant see his loyalty? And how should this case end...

The young legal official was trapped in entanglement and worry. Zong Rui had already retracted his gaze and looked at Liu Zhao again:

"Since the Commandant asked about the rules, this official will also ask the Commandant. The detention official letter of the commandery government needs to be signed and sealed by the Commandery Assistant. Last time the Commandant issued a document to summon first, and temporarily called me to the hall to sign and seal, although it was not in accordance with the law, but the person was not mentioned, so I didn't say anything. Today is the second time the rules have been broken. I hope the Commandant will give this official an explanation."

"This case involves secrets. This official holds the Dianqian writ, monitoring beyond the Inspector's office. To ensure that the news does not leak, I can only arrest people first and then supplement the seal. This is a minor detail. The Commandery Assistant does not prioritize the case and crime, but instead questions this official with minor details..."

Liu Zhao said this, deliberately glanced at Wang Yang, saw Wang Yang looking at the play with great interest, suppressed a fire, and turned back to look at Zong Rui, his voice threatening: "Are you trying to bend the law for personal gain?"

Zong Rui's expression remained unchanged, and he extended a palm, palm facing up:

"Evidence. Since arresting people, there must be evidence. This official does not dare to bend the law for personal gain. Today, I will meet with the commandery officials, review the evidence, and then immediately supplement the seal, never delaying the Commandant's law enforcement."

Liu Zhao paused and said: "This case is complex, and the key evidence has been hidden—"

"Hidden by whom?" Zong Rui asked immediately.

Wang Yang raised his hands slightly, feigning innocence: "Not me."

Liu Zhao took a deep breath, restrained his inner anger, and said to Zong Rui: "This official will find the evidence, the Commandery Assistant doesn't need to worry."

"This is the public business of the commandery government. The Commandant has no official signature, privately issued an official letter to arrest people, and now has no evidence. This matter, this official will report it truthfully."

Liu Zhao said with a dark face, impatiently: "As you wish. Now this official wants to continue interrogating the case, Commandery Assistant, please."

Zong Rui looked at Wang Yang and said sternly: "The matter involves the gentry, and there is no evidence. The case is suspicious, and the law has no basis. Before the Commandant releases the person, this official will not leave."

Liu Zhao was furious: "Commandery Assistant Zong! Do you want to resist the superior's order and obstruct the case?!"

Zong Rui shouted: "Commandant Liu wants to steal the law for his own use, framing and framing?!"

All the officials saw this scene, all holding their breath, not daring to speak.

Liu Zhao made a decisive decision and said:

"This case is monitored by the Dianqian, and this official is in charge! Although the Commandery Assistant assists in the commandery affairs, he must not interfere with the criminal case! Left and right! Take Commandery Assistant Zong Rui and his party away from the interrogation room! If anyone delays and does not leave, it is contempt for the superior, disrupting justice, and will be arrested immediately!"

Four guards stepped forward, aggressively reaching out: "Commandery Assistant Zong, please!"

The four commandery officials behind Zong Rui all had the intention to retreat, but because of Zong Rui, it was not easy to retreat on their own. Although Liu Zhao's official rank was higher, he was a commoner, and when the examination limit arrived, the official would move and the person would leave. But the Nanyang Zong Clan is one of the four surnames in Jingtu, sitting on the ground and taking root, with branches and leaves. These flowing officials, iron-clad gentry, if it weren't for this, why would they be willing to follow Zong Rui to wade into this muddy water?

Zong Rui himself had no intention to retreat, but he was powerless now. Although he is the Commandery Deputy, he is in charge of civil affairs, not justice. Although he knows that Liu Zhao has problems in this case, Liu Zhao now puts on a posture of handling the case specially, wanting to drive him away from the scene, and he has no legitimate reason to intervene. At this time, he looked at Wang Yang, his eyes worried.

Wang Yang nodded to Zong Rui.

Zong Rui was suspicious. Wang Yang previously asked him to sit in the room to prevent Liu Zhao from torturing and forcing a confession. Is the plan changed now? But once he leaves, what about Wang Yang? If something happens to him, his father won't eat him alive? However, this person is deep in planning, since he nodded, there must be a reason.

Zong Rui thought for a while and said: "Since the Commandant is arbitrary, I have no choice but to leave temporarily, but I will put the words here today, without evidence, the crime case will not be established. Arbitrarily imprisoning the gentry will inevitably be investigated—"

Zong Rui scanned the legal officials in the room and said coldly:

"If anyone relies on power to play with the law and humiliate the gentry, it is a crime upon crime! It will be difficult to escape the sanctions of the national law! Please Commandant and all legal officials, do it for yourself."

All the officials were awe-inspiring and silent.

Liu Zhao snorted coldly and didn't answer.

Zong Rui bowed to Wang Yang and exited the interrogation room.

After the door closed, Liu Zhao turned to Wang Yang and sneered coldly: "Do you think that by inviting Zong Rui, you can control me?"

Wang Yang brushed his sideburns with two fingers, his expression calm, and whispered: "The vanguard is not strong, there is a response."

Liu Zhao shouted: "What did you say?!"

Wang Yang smiled slightly and spat out two words indifferently: "Line up."

Liu Zhao suddenly felt a bad premonition in his heart. At this time, the prison door opened again, and it was Zong Rui and his party returning!

Before Liu Zhao could attack, the Prison Assistant looked anxious and hurriedly stepped forward to report:

"Commandant, something happened! The commandery school and private schools in the city have all gone on strike! The students have surrounded the commandery prison, demanding the immediate release of Wang Yang and Director Liu Tan Tan, and the punishment of officials who violated the law to handle the case. They are emotionally excited and almost want to fight with the jailers! The shouting outside is shaking the sky, collectively shouting, saying..."

The Prison Assistant hesitated and dared not speak.

All the officials changed their faces when they heard this!

Students rushing to the government office to resist the law, such a great responsibility, who can bear it?!

Originally, the evidence was not found, and they didn't know how to end it. Now this kind of thing happened, not only was it completely unable to be covered up, but it was adding fuel to the fire, making things worse!

Releasing people now, wouldn't it confirm the crime of violating the law and arresting? Wang Yang has the Prince's order to protect him, and Director Liu Tan Tan has an official status. Bypassing the Inspector's office with the Dianqian writ has already offended the Prince. If there is evidence, then the Prince of Badong can only shut up. But if the verification is not true, the case is reversed, then...

All the officials felt cold on their backs.

Liu Zhao stepped forward and asked the Prison Assistant: "What did they say?"

The Prison Assistant knelt down and replied:

"They said, 'The law is clear, how can it be wrongly judged? The Commandant should be guilty, Wang and Liu should be returned!'..."

Hearing these sixteen words, Liu Zhao only felt a "boom" in his brain, and couldn't help but take a step back!

Killing without seeing blood, this is going to be in the history books!

The good reputation of being fair and enforcing the law for many years was destroyed in one fell swoop?

Seeing the Commandant like this, the Prison Assistant didn't dare to tell him the other version. In fact, another wave of people shouted: "If Wang and Liu are not returned, heaven will not be at peace! Commandant, apologize, the law is clear!"

"Commandant!"

The young legal official rushed up to support Liu Zhao. Liu Zhao pushed him away, pointed at Wang Yang, his face no longer having the previous calm, but blue veins appeared: "You, you actually incited the student chaos! You are guilty of death!!!"

Wang Yang smiled and said indifferently: "With my academic reputation in Jingzhou, do I need to incite it?"

Liu Zhao shuddered!

Everyone was shocked!

This statement sounds extremely arrogant at first glance! But thinking about it carefully, it actually makes a lot of sense!

From the academic debate at the White Tiger Dojo, to Wang Yang's lecture at the Commandery School, to the previous big debate that was in full swing, Wang Yang's reputation in the Jingzhou academic circle had reached a peak! Whenever he lectured at the Commandery School, the school was always overcrowded, and even outside the windows were crowded with students and scholars who came for his name. Five or six types of books such as *Notes on Wang's Minister Studies*, *Extracts from Wang Zhiyan's Lecture Records*, and *Compilation of Langya Wang Lang's Lecture Seats* were circulating in the bookstores. As for public and private academic debates, they often cited Wang Yang's words as a basis.

Not to mention that the two elders Lu Huan and Xu Bozhen bought a house in Jiangling City to listen to Wang Yang's lectures! I heard that Lu Huan originally wanted to perform the disciple ceremony to Wang Yang, but Wang Yang firmly refused, so he gave up. But when listening to the lecture, he was also respectful and sat upright. The two elders Lu and Xu are masters of classics, and with their status, they bowed to follow, let alone others.

Director Liu Tan Tan's academic reputation is not as good as Wang Yang's, but he also has a reputation in the academic forest. And he is the libationer of the Wang Guan School. Although the Wang Guan School has canceled the name of the official school and turned into a private school, many students remained. There are more academic peers, otherwise, how could he invite three master-level lecturers during the academic debate?

This is why Wang and Liu were arrested today, and the wind has not spread far. If it drags on for a few more days, and the news spreads, I don't know how many students and scholars from other commanderies will rush to Jiangling to support!

At this time, another jailer reported that the students were gathering more and more, their emotions were excited, and they were about to impact the prison gate! Many students brought family servants and attendants. Once the situation got out of control, the existing jailers could not resist at all!

The Prison Assistant was sweating profusely: "Commandant, make a decision quickly! I'm afraid that if the students can't hold back, a great disaster will happen!" ===== CHAPTER 206 =====