Chapter 209: The Investigation of the Wang Family

Privately, the scholars of Taiyuan all referred to Dong Zhuo as "the Dong family boy."

These scholar-clans, who traced their origins back to the beginning of the Han Dynasty, and even the prestigious families of the Middle Ages, looked down upon Dong Zhuo entirely.

Now that such a major incident has occurred, you, Dong Zhuo, are still putting on airs?

Wang Chang immediately said angrily: "Regional Governor, I have come today to ask!"

"Why did the Jinyang County Lieutenant, Duan Yu, break into my elder brother Wang Ji's residence for no reason?"

"Breaking into a residence and killing people—does that Duan Yu really think this Jinyang belongs to him?"

"Trespassing into the Grand Administrator's residence, forcibly breaking down doors to kill, and even taking away my eldest brother—by what right does he, Duan Yu, do this?"

"For someone who defies superiors and ignores the law like this, shouldn't you, Regional Governor, give us an explanation?"

"Now, instead, you ask us why we are blockading the County Office; what kind of logic is this?"

As soon as Wang Chang spoke, the dozens of people standing behind him in the hall began to voice their agreement one after another.

"Regional Governor, Grand Administrator, I am Guo Yong of the Jiexiu Guo clan, and my ancestor was Guo Tai."

A young man dressed in purple robes stepped forward and bowed: "I would like to ask, what crime did Wang Ji commit? Without proof or evidence, by what right did Duan Yu arrest him?"

"Breaking into a residence and killing people—how is that any different from a bandit?"

"If the Jinyang County Lieutenant acts like this, how are we supposed to live in peace?"

"Are we expected to guard against thieves and bandits while also guarding against the Jinyang government?"

Liu Wei's eye twitched as he listened to Guo Yong's words.

Guo Tai.

A famous scholar of the world, mentioned alongside Xu Shao as "Xu-Guo," and hailed as one of the "Three Sages of Jiexiu."

In his early years, Guo Tai was a leader of the Imperial Academy, associated with Li Ying and others, and was highly renowned in Luoyang.

After the first Proscription of Partisan Prohibitions, he was hailed by scholars as one of the "Eight Models" of the Partisans.

Both Wang Rou and Wang Ze had once received guidance from Guo Tai.

Moreover, within the same commandery, nearly a hundred people had received favors and guidance from Guo Tai.

Although Guo Tai is now dead, the network of connections that benefited his juniors remains vast.

Those who received his guidance back then—Guo Changxin, Wang Changwen, Han Wenbu, Li Zizheng, Cao Ziyuan, Zhou Kangzi of Dingxiang, Wang Jiran of Xihe, Qiu Jizhi of Yunzhong, Hao Lizhen, and others—are now officials, with some holding positions of a thousand shi, others two thousand shi, and some even reaching the rank of the Nine Ministers.

Liu Wei could not help but look at Dong Zhuo.

Meanwhile, just as the voices of Wang Chang and Guo Yong died down, more people stood out from the crowd.

The Wen clan, the Cui clan, the Chang clan...

Wang Gai stood at the back of the crowd, listening to the people questioning Dong Zhuo, a sly smile on his face.

"Dong family boy, let's see how you protect that Duan Ziyi this time."

Liu Wei, sitting below Dong Zhuo, was now silent.

He was terrified that saying one word too many, or saying the wrong thing, would implicate him.

Dong Zhuo, sitting in the main seat, was in no hurry to speak.

Instead, he waited until everyone had finished speaking before slowly setting down the teacup in his hand.

"Have you all finished?" Dong Zhuo asked with a chuckle.

Seeing this attitude from Dong Zhuo, the crowd, having just finished speaking, was instantly enraged.

Wang Chang took a large step forward, looking quite fearless as he lifted his chin and said angrily: "Regional Governor, if you cannot give us a satisfactory answer today, we will naturally submit a petition to the Three Excellencies and the Son of Heaven to decide for us."

"Though we may lack the strength to truss a chicken, we will not act as lambs waiting to be slaughtered!"

"We still have elders outside, and many friends at the feet of the Son of Heaven!"

"I do not believe there is no place in this world for us to seek justice!"

Wang Chang said loudly.

"Right!"

"We must petition the Son of Heaven!"

"Petition the Three Excellencies!"

"Duan Yu is reckless and lawless; I want to see if the Son of Heaven can decide for us!"

"Heh." Dong Zhuo let out a cold laugh and narrowed his eyes.

Having spent years fighting on the battlefield and intimidating the Qiang tribes, once Dong Zhuo became serious, he was no longer the jolly "Fatty Dong" of ordinary days.

"So, you are all prepared to stand up for Wang Ji and the father and son of the Wang family?" Dong Zhuo said, narrowing his eyes: "I have understood this correctly, haven't I?"

The crowd was about to say something more, but Dong Zhuo suddenly stood up.

Hua Xiong, standing behind him, also widened his eyes and glared at the crowd.

In an instant, the County Office hall was filled with a chilling, murderous aura.

Dong Zhuo reached out behind him.

Li Ru handed Dong Zhuo the document that had already been prepared.

Dong Zhuo took the bamboo slip and threw it in front of Wang Chang.

"Open your eyes wide and look carefully for me!" Dong Zhuo shouted angrily.

Wang Chang was stunned.

Then, frowning, he bent down and picked up the bamboo slip from the floor.

Liu Wei also watched this scene in a daze, curious about what was on the bamboo slip.

Wang Chang picked up the bamboo slip, unfolded it, and scanned the writing on it.

After only a glance or two, Wang Chang's eyes widened, and his hands could not help but tremble.

"This..."

"This..."

Wang Chang held the bamboo slip with trembling hands and looked up at Dong Zhuo with a shocked expression: "This... this is impossible!"

"Impossible?" Dong Zhuo said, his eyes overflowing with murderous intent: "You say it's impossible, so it's impossible?"

"With human evidence, material evidence, and confessions all present, do you think I am here joking with you?"

"The son of the Xiongnu Chanyu Qiangqu, Huchuquan, has personally confessed, and your elder brother Wang Ji has already confessed; the testimony is right behind the hall. Do you think this could be fake?"

Wang Chang was stunned and shook his head rapidly: "No, impossible, it must have been a confession extracted under torture, extracted under torture!"

Dong Zhuo reached out his hand toward Li Ru behind him once more.

This time, Li Ru took a letter from his bosom.

After Dong Zhuo took it, he threw it in front of Wang Chang again.

Then he sneered and said: "You should recognize your uncle Wang Rou's handwriting. Whether it's real or fake, open your dog eyes and see for yourself!"

A bewildered Wang Chang bent down again and picked up the letter Dong Zhuo had thrown.

When he saw the contents of the letter clearly, Wang Chang was as if struck by lightning, staggering back three or four steps.

He shook his head while saying it was impossible.

At this moment, everyone in the main hall of the County Office was curious about what was on the letter and why Wang Chang was acting this way.

Even Grand Administrator Liu Wei was stunned, wondering what medicine Dong Zhuo was selling in his gourd.

But Liu Wei also noticed Dong Zhuo's words.

Huchuquan, son of the Xiongnu Chanyu Qiangqu.

Liu Wei, as the Grand Administrator of Taiyuan Commandery, was adjacent to Yanmen Commandery.

He had heard some things about Wang Rou.

There were rumors that Wang Rou had a good relationship with the Xiongnu and the Xianbei.

But these were just rumors, and no one took them seriously.

Furthermore, even if the relationship was good, what of it?

But now that these words had come out of Dong Zhuo's mouth, they were worth pondering.

Dong Zhuo stood up, scanned everyone in the hall, and said coldly: "I have already asked you once."

"You came to block the gate of the County Office today—are you here to stand up for Wang Ji!"

"I will pretend I didn't hear your previous answers."

As he spoke, Dong Zhuo's gaze fell on Wang Chang, the son of Wang Ze, and he said: "Men, seize this Wang clan member who colluded with the enemy and betrayed the country."

"Immediately send men to seal Wang Ze's residence; I now suspect that Wang Ze and his elder brother Wang Rou are colluding with the enemy and betraying the country together."

Wang Chang was still in a daze when more than a dozen guards rushed out of the hall.

Without a word, they pressed the still-stunned Wang Chang to the ground and tied him up.