Chapter 235: Stirring Up the Wind and Clouds

Hearing Li Yan's sarcasm, the scholars were all furious.

They had always ganged up to scold others until they didn't dare to speak, never expecting that a person from the martial world would dare to be rude to them.

After all, in the eyes of the common people, they were high and mighty.

Officials had to pay attention to their reputation among the literati and were unwilling to offend them.

And running into someone like Li Yan was just bad luck, as he simply didn't take these scholars seriously.

Mountain Chief Song was very calm at this time, glanced at them, suppressed the anger of the crowd, and then said calmly: "We are angry, naturally there is a reason. Say it, what do you want to know?"

This old man could become a Mountain Chief, naturally not ordinary.

Dealing with County Magistrate Wu, he could make trouble, but arguing with a martial artist like Li Yan would only be asking for humiliation.

Li Yan nodded slightly and asked: "Erbeiwan incident, how did you all find out?"

Mountain Chief Song snorted, "The city is full of wind and rain, how could we not know?"

Li Yan didn't care and continued to ask: "Then what do you all think, is it evil people making trouble, or the Three-Lü Great Officer manifesting?"

As soon as these words came out, Mountain Chief Song and County Magistrate Wu's faces changed instantly.

This question couldn't be answered at all.

If it was evil people making trouble, and the academy followed suit, wouldn't that be purely malicious? Especially at this critical moment.

If it was said that the Three-Lü Great Officer manifested, it meant that the imperial court and local officials had lost their virtue, bringing disaster.

Common people could say it, but they absolutely couldn't mention it.

Mountain Chief Song pondered for a while, "Good question, this old man is also very strange, but right and wrong will have a fair judgment, and it will come to light."

"Also, this investigation of yours, is it just relying on wild guesses?"

"Of course not wild guesses."

Li Yan glanced coldly, "You all look at yourselves, the position you are standing in, is there anything strange?"

The academy crowd looked at each other, none of them found anything.

County Magistrate Wu on the hall had sharp eyes, looked up, stroked his beard and smiled, "Mountain Chief Song, don't blame Li Shaoxia for saying you are guilty. You all look, why are you all avoiding this 'Bright Mirror Hanging High' plaque?"

After he said this, the academy crowd discovered the trick. They had entered the Yamen hall together, but unconsciously avoided the center and retreated to the sides.

"You all don't rush to refute."

Seeing that Mountain Chief Song wanted to say something, Li Yan interrupted him directly and said indifferently: "You all stare at that 'Bright Mirror Hanging High' plaque, see how long you can persist?"

Upon hearing this, the crowd couldn't care about being angry and looked up one after another.

At this, many people discovered the trick.

When they entered the county Yamen hall before, they felt nauseous and annoyed, thinking they didn't like looking at Wu Defa.

However, looking at the plaque, they knew the source of this feeling.

Some people just looked at it for two glances and felt very disgusted and uncomfortable.

Some people were unconvinced and stared hard, but soon, there was a stuffiness and nausea in their chests, and they couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of sour stench.

"Tsk tsk."

Sha Lifei also looked at this group of people unpleasantly and couldn't help but say a strange word, "No wonder, there is a saying of sour and smelly corrupt scholars."

Mountain Chief Song endured the nausea in his chest and ignored Sha Lifei's sarcasm, saying in a deep voice: "This Young Master Li, are we under a sorcery?"

"Not so."

Li Yan said calmly: "It's just infected with demonic energy!"

In fact, as soon as this group of people came in, he found something wrong, secretly pinched the Yang formula, and immediately found a faint Yin evil energy.

This smell also carried a fishy stench.

As soon as Li Yan smelled it, he knew it came from some kind of monster.

He originally wanted to ask directly, but this group of people came in noisily, which was very annoying, so he deliberately taught them a lesson.

"Ugh!"

At this time, people were vomiting from time to time in the hall.

Although it was a sour stench, County Magistrate Wu looked at the embarrassed appearance of these scholars and only felt refreshed, saying indifferently: "Someone, clean up the filth in the hall."

The words had double meanings, clearly mocking.

And the old man Song Shan Chief couldn't care about responding at this time, looked at Li Yan, cupped his hands slightly and said in a deep voice: "This Young Master Li is indeed extraordinary, this old man was rude just now, what exactly happened to us?"

Li Yan shook his head, "Didn't I say it, infected with demonic energy, it won't kill you for the time being, but it might not be certain if it lasts long."

"Let's not mention this, I still have words to ask."

"Young Master Li, please speak." Mountain Chief Song was clearly much more honest.

Li Yan looked at the crowd and said in a deep voice: "The Erbeiwan incident is likely related to the chaos in the Southwest. Someone is taking the opportunity to make trouble, stirring up civil resentment, and preparing for war."

"With the Mountain Chief's wisdom, could it be that you can't see it?"

Mountain Chief Song was silent for a while, "To tell you the truth, this old man also has suspicions."

Li Yan narrowed his eyes, "Since you know, why are you still following suit? Are you being instigated by someone?"

Slap!

Before the words fell, County Magistrate Wu on the hall slammed the gavel, his face completely lost its previous kindness, and he said coldly: "Song Mingchu, you are the Mountain Chief of the academy, how dare you collude with thieves? Are you intending to rebel?"

Mountain Chief Song had anger hidden in his eyes.

But just as he was about to speak, Li Yan glanced at the hall and said impatiently: "County Magistrate Wu, what are you in a hurry for?!"

"Even intrigue doesn't distinguish the time..."

"I!"

County Magistrate Wu Dehai was choked and couldn't speak, his heart annoyed.

He saw Li Yan confronting the academy crowd and was originally happy, thinking this person was venting his anger, but didn't expect that neither side would give a good face.

Sure enough, they were martial arts thieves, simply unscrupulous!

"Hmph!"

Mountain Chief Song glanced at him coldly and said in a deep voice: "To tell you the truth, this old man guesses that this matter is related to those Tusi, and the root cause is in our County Magistrate Wu!"

"Simply nonsense!"

County Magistrate Wu was also unable to hold on, his face flushed red, and he shouted loudly: "Song Mingchu, don't think that because you have someone protecting you, this official doesn't dare to take you down."

"Slandering imperial officials, colluding with chaotic bandits, you can't bear any of these crimes!"

At this point, both sides had completely torn their faces.

Mountain Chief Song was not polite at this time, saying coldly: "What good things you have done since you came to Zigui County, you know clearly!"

"The Chaoshan Society you created not only holds salt permits to sell salt and raises prices at will, making it difficult for common people to eat salt, but also secretly sells salt to those Tusi cities, having close dealings..."

"The Chaoshan Society also lends money everywhere, nine out and fourteen back, forcing how many common people to have their families broken and their wives sold to pay debts. Some common people went to Yunyang Prefecture to file a complaint, but were intercepted and killed halfway..."

"Shut up!"

County Magistrate Wu was already furious, his face flushed red, and he shouted loudly: "Someone, take this group of thieves down!"

"Yes!"

Seeing that the atmosphere was wrong, a group of yamen runners outside the hall had long been prepared, and upon hearing the order, they immediately rushed in with water and fire sticks and ropes.

Just then, roars rang out from outside.

"Wu the dog official will not die well!"

"Catch him, peel his skin and light a lamp!"

"This life can't be lived anymore!"

It was because this matter attracted many common people to watch. Although they were blocked outside the door, they heard the quarrel in the hall, and their anger soared.

Thinking of the oppression they had suffered over the years, and now even the Mountain Chief and instructors of Danyang Academy were about to be taken down, their anger soared.

"Rebel, rebel..."

Seeing the civil unrest, County Magistrate Wu Dehai was also a bit panicked, his face pale, at a loss.

He didn't expect that this group of mud-legged people would really dare to attack the county Yamen.

"Don't move, are you all intending to rebel!"

Just then, a roar rang out from afar.

It was a green-robed official riding a horse, surrounded by more than a dozen fierce knights, all wearing armor, holding iron spears, each full of murderous intent. These looked like veteran soldiers who didn't blink at killing.

Although there were only a dozen people, the warhorses rumbled, and the whole street trembled, as if thousands of troops were rushing over.

The common people were just angry for a moment, but were shocked by the momentum of these soldiers, and were so scared that they retreated one after another, not daring to say another word.

That red-robed official wore a black gauze hat, a round-collared green robe, and a heron pattern embroidered on his chest. His face was slightly black, and three long beards fluttered in the wind. Standing on his horse, he had quite a momentum.

He scanned the crowd and cupped his hands in a deep voice: "This official is Zhou Kai, the Assistant Prefect of Yunyang Prefecture, specially sent by the Provincial Governor to handle the cases in Zigui County."

"The imperial court has its own laws. If there are any grievances, this official will make the decision for you. But if you attack the county Yamen, it is equivalent to treason, and you will be killed without mercy!"

"Please make the decision for the common people, my lord!"

"Please make the decision, my lord!"

Many common people knelt down one after another.

"Everyone, don't worry."

!.

Assistant Prefect Zhou Kai nodded slightly, and after getting off his horse, he gave a wink.

Several of his soldiers immediately held spears and blocked the entrance of the county Yamen, while the rest followed him and walked into the county Yamen hall with big strides.

This movement naturally couldn't be hidden from everyone in the hall.

County Magistrate Wu Dehai also hurriedly went down the hall and cupped his hands respectfully to the newcomer: "I have seen Assistant Prefect Zhou."

The status of an Assistant Prefect was slightly lower than that of a Prefect, but he had the duty of supervising the Prefect and could report the situation directly to the Emperor.

A county magistrate was naturally far inferior.

"I have seen Assistant Prefect Zhou."

Many scholars and Mountain Chief Song Mingchu in the hall also cupped their hands together.

"Hmph!"

Assistant Prefect Zhou Kai was also very annoyed.

He came to Zigui secretly, originally to appease those Tusi who were watching, so as not to have chaos here before the Jingchu mountain region was pacified.

Didn't expect that before the matter was handled, chaos had already arisen here.

With a cold snort, he shook his sleeves and sat on the hall, ordering in a deep voice: "Someone, close the door!"

Rumble, the county Yamen gate was closed instantly.

Many common people were just watching the excitement and angry for a moment, how could they really rebel.

Seeing the Yamen gate closed, those who had no excitement to watch left first, and the rest saw those fierce soldiers and felt fearful in their hearts, dispersing one after another.

And in the county Yamen hall, Assistant Prefect Zhou Kai glanced coldly at County Magistrate Wu Dehai, clearly extremely disappointed in him, and then said in a deep voice:

"Say it one by one, what's going on!"

Mountain Chief Song Mingchu naturally knew how to seize the initiative, immediately cupped his hands, and told the story from beginning to end, attributing all the chaos in Zigui now to Wu Dehai...

Wu Dehai was also anxious, saying that the academy crowd ignored the big picture, intended to stir up civil unrest, and also colluded with monsters to make trouble...

Both sides splashed dirty water on each other, looking like they were about to fight.

"Shut up!"

Assistant Prefect Zhou Kai was so angry that his eyelids trembled, and then he looked coldly at Li Yan, saying in a deep voice: "Since you accepted the City God Temple's mission, investigating cases and driving away evil is your job, why are you fanning the flames and stirring up chaos!"

He was an old fox and immediately sensed what Li Yan had done.

"My lord is joking."

Li Yan's expression was calm, "Zigui County is now covered in clouds and mist, and the clues have been deliberately covered up. This official just wanted to ask about the situation clearly, how did it become fanning the flames?"

Assistant Prefect Zhou Kai snorted, "Sharp-tongued!"

How could he not know the situation in Zigui County? But some things were just like this, they couldn't be too explicit.

If it were an ordinary official, he would have taken him down directly, but Wu Dehai was related to the Ezhou Chamber of Commerce and, because of selling private salt, was also involved with those Tusi.

Large armies from various states of the imperial court were gathering, and the Ezhou Chamber of Commerce was responsible for raising supplies, grain transport, and many other matters.

This time, appeasing the Tusi also couldn't do without Wu Dehai's bridge-building. To take care of the big picture, he turned a blind eye to some things.

Li Yan, however, lifted the fig leaf.

But such things couldn't be stated clearly.

Thinking of this, Assistant Prefect Zhou Kai directly changed the subject, narrowed his eyes and said: "The academy is a place for reading sage books, cultivating the meaning of gentlemen, and nourishing the spirit of righteousness. How did you all get infected with demonic energy?"

Mountain Chief Song's heart trembled, and he cupped his hands and said in a hoarse voice: "We were acting for the people, and most likely offended someone, and were harmed by evil arts."

"Don't you slander people!"

County Magistrate Wu Dehai's forehead was sweating.

"Shut up!"

Assistant Prefect Zhou Kai looked at these two groups of people, only feeling the veins on his forehead jumping, and then looked at Li Yan, "Since you discovered this matter, do you know the reason?"

Li Yan said in a deep voice: "Need to ask again."

As he spoke, he turned his head to look at the academy crowd, "In the academy recently, have there been any strange things?"

Mountain Chief Song said in a deep voice: "The academy is a place of sages, and there is a sacrificial official sitting in town. Students study hard day and night, there are no strange things."

Great Xuan academies and Confucian temples in various places also had sacrificial rituals.

The main objects of sacrifice were the Most Holy First Teacher and the four associates: the Re-Holy Yan Zi, the Sect-Holy Zeng Zi, the Narrative-Holy Zisi Zi, and the Sub-Holy Meng Zi. There were also the ten philosophers and below, all of whom were called former sages and sons.

The sacrificial ceremony varied greatly depending on the situation, roughly divided into incense rituals, offering vegetables, offering sacrifices, etc.

The so-called "sacrificial official" was the person in the academy in charge of these ritual sacrifices, mostly people from the Confucian Mystic Sect.

Li Yan narrowed his eyes, "Why didn't the sacrificial official come?"

Mountain Chief Song replied: "Sacrificial official Liu Fuzi is old and has been living in a hut on a nearby mountain all year round. He doesn't know about this matter."

Li Yan nodded, pinched the Yang formula and smelled it, frowned, looked at the filth spat out by a student, and said coldly: "What unclean things have you all eaten recently?"

Mountain Chief Song was stunned, a trace of unnaturalness flashed in his eyes.

Before he could speak, one of the students looked around and said tremblingly: "Could it be that Red Pill?"

"Everyone, you all ate it too?"

"This... you ate it too?"

"Why didn't I hear you say it..."

The crowd looked at each other, asking in a jumble.

Assistant Prefect Zhou Kai on the hall immediately sensed something was wrong and said coldly: "What is the Red Pill, tell me the truth!"

Mountain Chief Song's face was ugly, he sighed, cupped his hands and said: "Reporting to my lord, the Red Pill is a secret medicine. After taking it, one is energetic and has an amazing memory."

"This old man is old, often distracted when reading these years, and often forgetful, but after taking the 'Red Pill', it improved a lot."

Several students also said embarrassedly:

"We prepared for the township exam, so we used this item."

Some students were full of anger, directly grabbing one of the lecturers, "Lecturer Lu, didn't you say this item was the rhyme of ancient Chu, how could it be infected with demonic energy?"

Mountain Chief Song also turned his head to look.

That lecturer was grabbed, his face pale.

Mountain Chief Song said coldly: "Yuan Feng, when you gave me this item, you also said it was wonderful, how did it become a demon pill in the blink of an eye?"

"This... I."

The lecturer was flushed red, gritted his teeth, and looked at Wu Dehai, "Wu, it turns out you are playing tricks."

"This 'Red Pill' is also related to your son!"

(End of this chapter) ===== CHAPTER 236 =====

Chief Song seemed to have aged significantly, sighing, "Yuan Feng, although you are obsessed with this Dao, you do not have the ability to refine pills. Tell me, where did they come from?"

The lecturer's face turned beet red; he gritted his teeth and looked at Wu Dehai, "You surnamed Wu, so it was you playing tricks all along."

"These 'Red Pills' also have something to do with your son!"

(End of chapter)