Chapter 982

Zhang Zhong spoke in official jargon, his face solemn.

But Gao Yang interrupted directly, "Inspector, let me interrupt: do you know about the problem in Qingshui County?"

The commoners, hearing this, all stared straight at Gao Yang.

This was an Inspector who oversaw three counties, but Gao Yang didn't even let him finish a sentence before interrupting.

They were inexplicably excited!

Zhang Zhong was interrupted, his expression changing.

But this question was really hard for him to answer. The missing merchant case had even been reported by commoners to the Commandery City, and there were case files.

He really did know about this.

And if he said he didn't know, the fact that Wang Ermazi's black shop had been operating for so long and the number of missing merchants kept rising was also a dereliction of duty.

Zhang Zhong subconsciously wanted to avoid the sharp edge, but looking at Gao Yang's falcon-like eyes, he gripped the simple megaphone and said, "I should know about this problem."

Gao Yang's tone rose, "Should know?"

"Do you know, or do you not know?"

Gao Yang's tone intensified, causing Zhang Zhong's heart to tremble.

He instantly straightened his body and said honestly, "I know about this problem."

"And I have also sent people down to investigate."

As soon as this was said, Gao Yang smiled, "And the result?"

"Wang Ermazi's black shop has been killing people and seizing goods not for a day or two, but for decades! According to what I know, Qingshui County Magistrate Li Wenzheng was inactive, so many families of missing merchants reported it to the Commandery City."

"After so many years, what was the result?"

"If Wang Ermazi hadn't harbored evil intentions toward me, he would still be at large, becoming a great philanthropist in the area. But what about the person in charge of supervision?"

Gao Yang's voice rose an octave, carrying a tone of questioning.

Let alone Zhang Zhong himself, even the officials from other counties felt the sharp edge hidden in Gao Yang's words and couldn't help but look at Zhang Zhong with sympathy.

The commoners were even more excited, deeply understanding the intensity of this inquiry!

Zhang Zhong was left speechless, but it was clear that Gao Yang had come prepared this time. If he had continued to shirk responsibility, he would have been done for.

"Come, give Inspector Zhang an award!"

Gao Yang gave the order.

Instantly, the whole city was stunned.

The crowd of officials stared at Gao Yang in unison, their faces filled with confusion.

An award?

The smiles on the commoners' faces suddenly stiffened; they were bewildered, even unable to believe their own ears.

Zhang Zhong's supervision was ineffective; he was clearly guilty of dereliction of duty!

Let alone having merit, he was definitely guilty!

And yet Gao Yang wanted to give an award?

Some commoners who were already very disappointed in Da Qian couldn't help but turn pale; they subconsciously stood up to leave, feeling despair.

Sure enough, crows are black all over the world. They had expected too much from this inquiry, and now they weren't even pretending anymore.

The smile on the blind man's face also stiffened.

"Pao'er, isn't this supposed to be playing for real?"

Old Li was instantly speechless.

But the next second, a plaque was brought up, and Gao Yang's voice rang out.

"Zhang Zhong, as the Inspector of the three regions, has the duty of supervision, but turned a blind eye to the lawlessness in his jurisdiction. This is typical inaction and lazy governance. Today, on behalf of His Majesty, I award Zhang Zhong the Ostrich Award!"

Chen Sheng held a plaque with the words "Ostrich Award" written in large letters and hung it directly around Zhang Zhong's neck.

Zhang Zhong was dumbfounded.

What award?

Ostrich Award?

Meng Ziyi, Liu Ning, and the others, seeing this scene, gasped in unison.

There were merchants who sailed the seas, and they had heard of ostriches.

Ostriches like to bury their heads in the sand when they have nothing to do, not listening, not looking, not smelling. Zhang Zhong got an Ostrich Award?

How could he go out and face people in the future?

This Ostrich Award didn't do much physical damage, but the insult was extremely strong!

Gao Yang continued to strike at his heart: "Inspector Zhang, this is the first Ostrich Award of my Da Qian. Since it has been awarded to you, why don't you face the commoners and greet them?"

His voice wasn't loud, even very soft, but falling into Zhang Zhong's heart, it was more terrifying than the devil in hell.

But since Gao Yang had spoken, no matter how unwilling he was, he had to give face to the three guillotines behind Gao Yang.

He walked to the edge of the inquiry platform, holding the large Ostrich Award plaque on his chest, facing the commoners who stretched as far as the eye could see.

At this moment, he wanted to die!

This feeling was even more shameful than squatting down right now, taking off his pants, and taking a dump in front of tens of thousands of commoners.

There was a few seconds of silence in the field.

Then.

A sky-high burst of laughter erupted.

"Hahaha!"

"Ostrich Award, so that's what kind of award it is!"

"Everyone, this old man is illiterate. What does this Ostrich Award mean?"

"I know this. Those merchants who returned from the sea, they said there is a kind of bird that lives in the desert and likes to hide its head in the sand, seeing nothing. Lord Gao is saying Inspector Zhang is blind!"

"What a great Ostrich Award!"

"Refreshing, truly refreshing!"

"From now on, when we go out, won't we have to call him Zhang the Ostrich?"

Zhang Zhong, listening to the clamor below and watching the commoners laugh unscrupulously, really wanted to turn into an ostrich and hide his head.

This was too insulting!

"Inspector Zhang, please return to your original position."

"Next, the second official I want to question is Anning County Magistrate Wang Zhen. Please stand up, Lord Wang!" ===== CHAPTER 984 =====