Chapter 226: Two Hundred and Thirty-Four, Lianghan's Three Sins!

Two Hundred and Thirty-Four, Lianghan's Three Sins!

At the foot of Mount Dagu.

"Magistrate Cai, Miss A-Qing, what's wrong with the Magistrate? He doesn't seem very happy..."

Beside Yan Liulang, who was originally busy, stopped in his tracks, looked at the silent figure returning not far away, and asked in a low voice.

It was just that no one answered him in this returning team with a strange and solemn atmosphere.

Cai Qin, A-Qing, and the others followed Ouyang Rong's footsteps silently.

Beside Yan Liulang and a group of blue-clad constables couldn't help but look over.

I remember that just now, while they were busy evacuating the commoners, they suddenly found Ouyang Rong returning to the foot of the mountain without a word.

The young county magistrate passed by them indifferently and walked toward the square at the foot of the mountain without looking back.

At the foot of Mount Dagu, there was a square for guests to rest. In the past, temple fairs and festivals could sell some temple supplies or Longcheng specialties. Near the center, there was a giant rock carved with the four characters "Clear Heart and See Nature," which was considered the highest point in the square.

I saw Ouyang Rong, carrying a sword, walk up to the top of the rock without saying a word, looking down from a high position.

This strange behavior immediately attracted the attention of the commoners taking refuge in the square.

And what made Beside Yan Liulang and other constables even more stunned was his instruction with lowered eyes:

"Liulang, go and call all the elders and fellow villagers you can call. This official has something to say."

"Ah... yes, Magistrate."

Ouyang Rong lowered his head slightly, took a deep breath, suddenly called Beside Yan Liulang, and asked:

"Wait, where is the Immortal Lady Yuzhi?"

"This subordinate brought her here from the office."

Beside Yan Liulang answered. Seeing Ouyang Rong silent with lowered eyes, he turned and left with the order.

A moment later, the commoners taking refuge who had gathered from all directions of Longcheng County heard the county magistrate's order and gathered toward this square at the foot of the mountain one after another.

Below the giant rock, the crowd gathered more and more.

Below the giant rock, all the commoners taking refuge in Longcheng County gathered in three layers inside and three layers outside.

The crowd who came here was attracted by the strange standing figure of the young county magistrate on the giant rock.

Ouyang Rong suddenly drew his sword.

Clang—!

A crisp sword sound rang out.

The crowd in the square, which had been somewhat noisy, fell silent instantly.

Ouyang Rong held the sword in his right hand, the blade facing inward, and held the sword vertically between his eyes.

"Today, calling the elders and fellow villagers over, I am here to plead guilty in public."

He said.

Everyone was stunned.

A clan elder with white hair and beard walked out tremblingly: "The Magistrate is impartial and selfless, clean and honest, what crime is there?"

Ouyang Rong didn't look sideways, stared at the blade in front of him, and shook his head:

"No, this official has three crimes to apologize for."

He took off his official hat,

and threw it at his feet.

"The first crime is the crime of dereliction of duty.

"With a great disaster imminent, I was slack and negligent. In this position, I could not wholeheartedly plan for the government, and because of personal matters, I left my post without authorization, almost causing a great disaster.

"This is the crime of dereliction of duty!"

After speaking, Ouyang Rong took off his hair crown in public, lowered his head, grabbed his black long hair, and cut it horizontally with his sword.

The whole scene was in an uproar.

The body, hair, and skin are received from parents and cannot be damaged; damaging them is unfilial.

For a scholar with a degree, this was already a very serious and solemn matter.

"Cutting hair instead of the head to apologize for the crime."

A cluster of thick, black long hair fell slowly to his feet.

Ouyang Rong's short hair was messy, and his bangs covered his eyes, but he stared intently at the blade in front of him, continuing to say word by word:

"The second crime is the crime of negligence and lack of inspection.

"I am not talented, but I have been deeply trusted by the commoners of Longcheng and supported by my colleagues in the county government. As a county official, I should have thoroughly governed the bully Xie family.

"But I was arrogant and contemptuous, actually letting such rats lurk and parasitize, brewing a shocking conspiracy under my nose, threatening the safety of all the commoners in the city.

"If today, the conspiracy of the filthy Xie family succeeds, I, as a parent official of a county, will not be able to shirk the blame even if I die ten thousand times.

"This is the crime of negligence and dereliction of duty!"

This time, the whole scene was silent.

Ouyang Rong tore off his belt, grabbed the precious and gorgeous water-green official uniform on his body with one hand, and stabbed the official uniform with his long sword in a muffled voice, finally stabbing and slashing it into rags and throwing it on the ground.

"Forgive me for replacing my body with a robe! My life is temporarily kept; today it must still be used to do one last thing for me, for the Liu A-Shan family, and for the elders and fellow villagers of Longcheng."

His eyes were as quiet as a flat lake, and he nodded.

"This is also my last crime... the crime of abuse of power and personal gain.

"As the Longcheng Magistrate, when the water gate is about to collapse and the flood is about to come, I should have sat in this place, maintained order, and settled the commoners.

"But today, my brothers and comrades were captured by the Xie family, and I couldn't help myself; the Xie family brothers planned a monstrous conspiracy, which is imminent.

"Privately and publicly, emotionally and reasonably, I, Ouyang Lianghan, must make this trip. Even if the county government has few people and the enemy is many, and I am laughed at for overestimating my capabilities, but, even if there are millions of enemies, I will go!"

"This is the crime of dereliction of duty."

Ouyang Rong counted them out loudly. After listing the three crimes, he sheathed his sword.

He turned to instruct Beside Yan Liulang and others to gather the remaining few government soldiers. Before leaving, he clasped his fists in public for the last time, his expression apologetic and sorrowful:

"Bearing three crimes, Lianghan has nothing to return. I implore the elders and fellow villagers to temporarily forgive Lianghan and allow me to keep this thin life for this trip to the Xie family."

He restrained his expression and said with a serious face:

"Today, Lianghan will definitely be able to apologize! Either eradicate the evil thieves, or... pay with my life, and my heart will be at peace."

The whole scene was silent.

Ouyang Rong jumped off the giant rock, ordered Cai Qin to stay behind, and ordered Beside Yan Liulang to gather the remaining constables and government soldiers.

He led the remaining dozen or so constables and government soldiers and rushed out of the square.

Looking at the determined back in front, Beside Yan Liulang wanted to say something but stopped.

Cai Qin was also full of anxiety, running along while rubbing his waist, trying to block him. Did all his previous words go to waste?

Just halfway, after being kicked away by Ouyang Rong, Ouyang Rong was silent for a moment, then suddenly turned his horse's head and returned to Mount Dagu... The old county magistrate thought at the time that he had been persuaded and was going down the donkey.

It turned out that after returning to apologize, this Magistrate was going to charge to his death again, not listening at all? Hey, didn't he get kicked for nothing?

Cai Qin's old face darkened.

Under the eyes of everyone, the young county magistrate was going to rush to his death alone. The commoners in the square spontaneously surged toward the front, reluctant to let him go.

And among the crowd, several clan elders and local worthies took the lead to step forward, trying to stop Ouyang Rong.

A clan elder and local worthy looked at the young county magistrate who was determined to die and asked carefully:

"Why does the Magistrate say this? Your achievements are obvious to all. Speaking of which, everyone is also puzzled. The Xie family has already received the punishment of family division. What exactly did they do again, and what crimes did they have, that made the Magistrate blame himself so much, and even say he bears three crimes?"

After a pause, the clan elder with white hair and beard also frowned and asked with concern:

"Magistrate, I heard from people who came back from Zhe Yiqu that the Xie family brothers publicly accused you, saying that you offended the Long Wang at the bottom of the water, which led to the rising water upstream recently. They also said you..."

The young county magistrate suddenly stopped, turned his head, and said earnestly:

"Elders and fellow villagers, there has never been any savior in this world, nor any Long Wang or god. If there is, it is malicious human behavior."

"Don't you see that it has always been the Xie family who tried to be the Long Wang of Longcheng, wanting to suppress the elders and fellow villagers forever, and act as a tyrant."

The Longcheng commoners, led by clan elders and local worthies, were mostly hesitant and looked at each other.

"It is not difficult to push down the mountains in reality; what is difficult is to push down the mountains in the heart."

Ouyang Rong pursed his lips, was silent for a moment, turned his head, and instructed Beside Yan Liulang:

"Go and bring the Immortal Lady Yuzhi up."

Beside Yan Liulang was stunned, reacted to something, and looked at the Magistrate's calm expression.

The blue-clad head constable left immediately and returned soon, escorting a haggard and weak chubby female priest.

The Immortal Lady Yuzhi might have been sealed by Xie Lingjiang's meridians and acupuncture points, or the injury from the backlash and vomiting blood last time had not healed.

Her face was pale and bloodless, her steps were staggering, and her shackles clattered.

But who would have thought that after this weak female priest was brought up, she saw Ouyang Rong, who had messy short hair and only wore white inner clothes, suddenly widened her eyes, her pupils shrinking sharply:

"Demon! A demon resurrected from the dead! You are not the original sacrifice, you are a demon released! Ah ah ah ah save me, save me, the demon is going to eat people..."

The Immortal Lady Yuzhi looked as if she had seen the most terrifying thing in the world, and turned to flee like crazy.

"Humph, pretending to be crazy and stupid again?" Beside Yan Liulang frowned.

He stepped forward with quick eyes and fast hands, gave the Immortal Lady Yuzhi a knee strike, and the Immortal Lady Yuzhi clutched her abdomen, like a shrimp, and was carried by Beside Yan Liulang to Ouyang Rong and knelt down honestly.

"Don't eat me, don't eat me..." The Immortal Lady Yuzhi held her head and kowtowed, not daring to look at Ouyang Rong, her hair disheveled, muttering in her mouth.

Ouyang Rong frowned slightly, but didn't pay much attention to these crazy words at the moment.

After hesitating, he closed his eyes and said:

"Liulang, while the elders and fellow villagers are all here, state the ribbon-cutting case instructed by the Xie family, and the cause of the destruction of the Di Gong Zha found out in the past, so that everyone who is still kept in the dark can hear who is the real 'Long Wang'."

"Magistrate, what does this mean..." The clan elders and local worthies were stunned, curious and wanting to speak.

Ouyang Rong nodded to signal them to listen quietly.

Beside Yan Liulang was solemn, stepped forward, took out the case files investigated these days, and used the Burning Heaven Jiao Oil, the Immortal Lady Yuzhi, and other witnesses and material evidence as assistance...

Finally, under the sun, the truth that had been hidden all along was stated one by one, and began to be placed in front of everyone:

"Everyone, the collapse of the Di Gong Zha every four years is actually done secretly by the Longcheng Xie family!"

The first sentence made the whole scene roar.

Beside Yan Liulang continued loudly:

"In the past ten years or so, every flood that caused the commoners to lose their families was not just a natural disaster, but also a man-made disaster."

"The Xie family used the convenience of the sword shop craftsmen to repair the gates, and every time they put the strange oil that would explode into the main gate room... Please look, it is this oil, which is also provided by this female priest on the field..."

"The Xie family would take the opportunity to detonate the strange oil when the water rose, destroying the water gate."

"When the flood ravaged downstream, the Xie family, which had long been prepared, set up porridge sheds and baby-rearing halls, annexed good fields and land, and took the opportunity to make a fortune in the disaster year!"

"Then they pretended to cooperate with the county government to repair the gate again, buried mines again, and prepared for the next four years. It cycled back and forth, and the Xie family grew strong in this way!"

The crowd seemed to be shocked, and the silent scene was filled with Beside Yan Liulang's biting cold smile:

"What a Long Wang Xie family, what a 'Xie' character, born with water, growing with water, and what they sucked were the people's fat and ointment, hard-earned blood and sweat of the elders and fellow villagers!"

"The commoners sold their fields and children, but ended up raising a poisonous Xie that covered the sky, wanting to be the Long Wang and act as a tyrant! Today, they even dared to come up with a play of flooding Longcheng again!"

Witnesses and material evidence such as the Immortal Lady Yuzhi appeared one by one.

The truth was revealed to the world.

The whole scene was in an uproar!

It turned out that the main culprit who caused them to lose their families and wives and children was not a natural disaster, but the Xie family, which used to be a great good!

Everyone didn't know before that the three Xie brothers were bullies and tyrants, but they only thought that their ancestors were competitive and accumulated wealth for generations, so the resentment was not great.

But they didn't expect that they were secretly doing such a disgusting thing that angered both humans and gods!

The clan elders and local worthies stomped their feet and threw their sticks, cursing loudly; the commoners gritted their teeth and were filled with righteous indignation.

In an instant, the sound of grief and anger on the field shook the sky and the earth.

The commoners grabbed wooden sticks and shoulder poles one after another, surged forward, and pulled the clothes of the young county magistrate.

Some commoners were filled with grief and indignation: "Magistrate, go and fight them!"

Responding from all sides, the momentum was huge.

Ouyang Rong was dazed and silent.

He looked left and right.

The sound of blood and anger came from all directions.

He closed his eyes slightly and took a deep breath.

He only felt that there was something unspeakable and unclear spraying out of his chest.

This was the voice that made him hesitate to leave, wander in the Pure Land Underground Palace, and linger in self-deception.

It was also the thing he had been looking for since he took office, but could not find, which could burn all filth and clear away all paper tigers:

It was the fierce blood in the bloodline of the Wu-Yue children.

It was the anger of the common people in the mouths of princes and generals.

It was the power of the people!

"Who says there is nothing, who says empty-handed, who says overestimating one's capabilities?"

Ouyang Rong suddenly opened his eyes, turned to County Magistrate Cai Qin, who was looking around in shock, and said softly:

"The hearts of the people can be used!

"What if the enemy is many and we are few? Just a mob.

"What about mythical power? This anger gathered in the mortal world is the real myth of this world!"

Ouyang Rong's short hair fluttered, he stood high in plain clothes, and shouted:

"Everyone, don't be anxious or impatient. Women, children, and the elderly stay behind. Men over six feet tall, follow me. Today, everyone, unite as one, and the Xie family will surely perish!"

The angry commoners, under the guidance and organization of Ouyang Rong and others, gathered quickly.

Ten people, a hundred people, a thousand people.

Hua Xuanji, Ouyang Rong made a distribution quickly and turned to instruct:

"Beside Yan Liulang, organize the brave young men who volunteered, divide them into teams... be prepared, and then we will immediately go to Songlin Ferry!"

"County Magistrate Cai, I order you to go to Songlin Ferry quickly, mobilize official ships first, wait for the main force to come, and also...

"Take out all the Burning Heaven Jiao Oil previously stored in the cabin, put it into bamboo tubes, and distribute it one by one after everyone gets on the boat..."

"Remember, the target we want to destroy today is the Ancient Yue Sword Shop on the west bank of Butterfly Creek, the Xie family mansion on Mount Xiao Gu, and... a suspicious sword furnace."

"Go, let's go together to clear the scourge of Longcheng!"

The young county magistrate held his sword and nodded.

Well, give them a little shock from the masses. ===== CHAPTER 227 =====

Ten people, a hundred people, a thousand people.

Hua Xuanji, Ouyang Rong quickly made assignments and turned his head to instruct:

"Beside Yan Liulang, organize the young and strong who volunteered, divide them into teams... Once ready, we will immediately head to Songlin Ferry!"

"Magistrate Diao, I order you to rush to Songlin Ferry, first mobilize the official ships and wait for the main force to arrive, and also...

"Take out all the Heaven-Burning Shark Oil previously stored in the ship's hold, put it into bamboo tubes, and distribute them one by one after everyone boards the ships..."

"Remember, the targets we are to destroy today are the Gu Yue Sword Shop on the west bank of Butterfly Creek, the Liu family mansion on Little Gu Ashan, and... a suspicious sword furnace.

"Let's go, let's go together to clear out the scourges of Longcheng!"

The young magistrate held his sword and nodded.

Yes, give them a little bit of mass shock.