Chapter 526: Do They Think Xuzhou Has No One?

Zhang Jianting cursed under his breath, waved his hand, and said, "None of the lords are here!"

The gate runner glanced back, lowered his head, and said, "The lords of the Six Offices are all here. Which one are the honored inspectors looking for?"

"To the Punishment Office. A lowly wretch like that dares to be called 'lord'? If we were in Nanjing, I'd slap him awake with a few cuffs!" someone scoffed with a curse.

The gate runner naturally dared not respond, only forcing a dry laugh as he led the way. Government offices were never repaired unless absolutely necessary, and the impoverished post of Xuzhou's magistrate was even worse off—the dilapidation and decay made one frown just looking at it.

However, when they reached the Six Offices, where the clerks worked, it was at least tidier and cleaner. Although the Six Offices corresponded to the Six Ministries, the Punishment Office's status among the Six Offices was far higher than the Ministry of Punishment's among the Six Ministries—it was practically the second-highest position.

The four Embroidered Uniform Guard agents swaggered in. The clerks and runners in the Punishment Office, whether sitting or standing, hurriedly rose. A portly middle-aged man in the center clasped his fist and said with a smile, "My surname is Li, a clerk here. Honored inspectors, you've arrived, and we failed to welcome you from afar—truly negligent of us!"

"Putting on a scholar's act for what!" one agent rebuked impatiently. The man had spoken of failing to welcome them from afar, yet he had not stepped forward, and even his bow was shallow. What made these Embroidered Uniform Guards even more uncomfortable was that the Punishment Office of a backwater yamen was just like the mansions of those noble and powerful figures in Nanjing—a bunch of lowly clerks and runners all carrying themselves with a certain neither-subservient-nor-arrogant air.

They should at least be somewhat fearful and apprehensive. Why was no one asking about lunch? Zhang Jianting frowned and said, "Are you the one in charge of this Punishment Office?"

"This humble one manages things here. May I ask what business the honored inspectors have?"

Zhang Jianting narrowed his eyes and swept his gaze across the room. He could tell that the clerks and runners, though appearing calm, were actually all a bit guilty and fearful. This state of affairs still satisfied him. Hearing the other party's feigned calm counter-question, Zhang Jianting sneered inwardly. Once I ask my question, I'll scare the piss out of you—this case is terrifying!

"During the twelfth and first months last year, two men from the Sixth Hundred-household of the Rear Thousand-household of the Nanjing Embroidered Uniform Guard came to Xuzhou on official business, but they vanished without a trace, their fate unknown. This matter is inextricably linked to Xuzhou. Do you know anything about it?"

The moment this question was asked, the Punishment Office fell utterly silent in an instant. Everyone even lightened their breathing. The Embroidered Uniform Guard agents all wore cold sneers. They saw every face in the room turn deathly pale, and even that seemingly composed middle-aged man was full of panicked alarm.

"Th-this... th-this sort of thing is truly unimaginable!" Clerk Li stammered out these words.

When the Embroidered Uniform Guard agents came, the magistrate, vice-magistrate, and judge could claim illness, but these clerks had no way to avoid them. Clerk Li had met beforehand with the head clerks of the other offices and had exchanged information with prominent figures throughout the city, making all sorts of guesses about the agents' purpose. But he had never imagined this—they were actually investigating the missing Embroidered Uniform Guards.

However, once the initial panic passed, Clerk Li's expression instead relaxed. So it had nothing to do with the Zhao family—then it was no major matter. He coughed twice and said, "From last year to this year, this humble one has been on duty in the yamen the entire time and has never heard of any honored inspectors visiting. Have any of you heard?"

Everyone shook their heads. The four Embroidered Uniform Guard agents exchanged glances, all very puzzled. These people had been panicked at first, clearly frightened, but now they looked completely at ease. What on earth was going on?

What they could not have imagined was that for everyone in Xuzhou, the first person to fear was Zhao Jin. All the various worries about the Embroidered Uniform Guard's arrival were not fear of the Guard itself, but more a fear of mishandling the situation and angering the Zhao family—that would mean utter ruin beyond redemption.

"... Never heard of it. No honored inspectors came last year either..." everyone chimed in chaotically.

"Honored inspectors, could this matter be a mistake? We here have heard nothing of it."

"Of course they wouldn't come to you—they were in plain clothes investigating a case!" Zhang Jianting replied irritably. He could certainly tell the other party was starting to speak in bureaucratic evasions.

"We have word from our side that these two officers may have been murdered, possibly connected to the Xuzhou villain Zhao Jin. Have you heard anything about this?" An officer behind Zhang Jianting impatiently laid out the real subject.

To these Embroidered Uniform Guards from Nanjing, local clerks were utterly beneath notice—there was no need even to use any tactics, just say it directly.

The room fell silent again. This time, though, no one's face turned pale; instead, every expression seemed frozen in place. And no one looked at the four agents—they all looked toward Clerk Li.

Clerk Li's expression shifted for a long moment. He looked left and right, and every person his gaze fell upon could not help but lower their head. The room remained in this eerie silence, while clerks and runners from other offices poked their heads in at the doorway to peer around.

"If you have something to say, say it quickly! What are you dawdling for? Could it be you're in collusion with that Zhao Jin!" Zhang Jianting sensed something was off and barked out with extreme severity.

"Pfft"—a sound came from someone in the room who couldn't help laughing. But that single sound immediately drew vicious glares from both the Embroidered Uniform Guard agents and every clerk and runner in the room, and the person instantly lowered their head.

Everyone's expressions were also very strange. Clerk Li sighed, then clasped his fist and asked, "Honored inspectors, may I ask what those two plainclothes officers came to Xuzhou to investigate?"

"What else would they investigate? Zhao Jin's illegal activities, of course!" The Embroidered Uniform Guard officers grew increasingly impatient.

The room fell silent again. Everyone exchanged glances and gave slight nods. Those peering at the doorway were also stunned for a moment. Some turned and left, and after walking only a short distance broke into a quick run. Others remained, concentrating and listening closely.

By this point, everyone had figured it out or guessed it, and it was all clear. These two agents had come to investigate Zhao Jin. As for their fate, there was no mystery—they were certainly dead. Not possibly murdered—definitely murdered. Too many people had died at Zhao Jin's hands over these past few years; everyone was long inured to it.

Unconsciously, the atmosphere in the room relaxed. At first, no one had known who the Embroidered Uniform Guard was investigating. Now they knew it was Zhao Jin. Everyone had been worried about many things before—worried that mishandling the situation would bring punishment from Zhao Jin, worried that if the Embroidered Uniform Guard arrested Zhao Jin, Xuzhou might face a great upheaval with all sorts of unpredictable outcomes.

But now, everything was clear. The Embroidered Uniform Guard wanted to investigate Zhao Jin, and everyone also knew how Zhao Jin would respond—he had already acted, cleanly and decisively. So what was there left to worry about? Let the Embroidered Uniform Guard and Zhao Jin confront each other directly!

"What are you dawdling for there? Could it be you still harbor thoughts of shielding Zhao Jin!" One Embroidered Uniform Guard agent stepped forward and bellowed.

The sudden shout startled everyone in the room. Displeased expressions appeared on all their faces as they glared angrily at the agents.

The four Embroidered Uniform Guards were instead stunned. Why did the atmosphere feel off? Clerk Li muttered a few words to the side, and a minor clerk next to him heard clearly and hurriedly covered his mouth and lowered his head.

"Honored inspectors, your office conducted a plainclothes investigation, of which all of Xuzhou was entirely unaware. As to whether Zhao Jin committed murder, we here are also entirely unaware. However, Young Master Zhao Jin is a son of the Xuzhou Guard, a man of loyal, honest, and pure character, who has always shown consideration for the locality and helped the elderly and the young. He would certainly never commit such a vicious and brutal act. We hope you will investigate clearly."

"You wretched scoundrel! Are you saying we are falsely accusing a good man?"

"Did I ever utter the words 'falsely accusing'? I am merely speaking to the facts of the matter!"

"You must be in collusion with that Zhao Jin! We'll seize you first and interrogate you—I refuse to believe we can't extract evidence of your crimes!"

Clerk Li had spoken very politely, yet this matter-of-fact attitude also drove the four Embroidered Uniform Guards into a rage. How had they suddenly started speaking well of Zhao Jin? And how had they completely absolved themselves of any connection to the Embroidered Uniform Guards' disappearance? What on earth had happened?

When the Embroidered Uniform Guard conducted business, which clerk or runner in these prefectural and county yamens was not trembling with fear? If they didn't like the look of someone, a slap would fly—who dared say no? How was it that here they were so neither-subservient-nor-arrogant, even showing signs of outright defiance?

"This bastard is definitely hiding something. Seize him for questioning. I think this yamen isn't clean either—it might well be a nest of collusion!" someone said in a sinister tone.

Clerk Li abruptly raised his head and asked, his face full of grievance, "Every word I spoke is the truth. How has it become a crime? Gentlemen, where under heaven is there such logic?"

For a moment, no one made a sound. Everyone was a bit slow to react. Then someone spoke up: "Lord Li is right..."

"Who dares spout nonsense! Do you want to be considered an accomplice?!" Zhang Jianting knew he had to suppress the situation at this moment, or there would be trouble.

Even if these Nanjing Embroidered Uniform Guards did not handle many cases, they had similar experiences. Zhang Jianting roared, directly drawing his blade halfway out. The other three did the same, viciously drawing their blades and glaring.

Cold light flashed; the vicious postures and expressions made everyone in the room involuntarily step back. The room fell somewhat silent again.

"Seize this wretch first!" The thought of ending this quickly had already taken hold. Two men stepped forward, reaching out to grab Clerk Li. Everyone had already made up their minds—they had to establish dominance first, properly deal with this blind little clerk, and at the very least vent this anger!

Clerk Li stepped back. Everyone else in the room hesitated. Clerk Li usually treated people well, but the ones doing the seizing were the Embroidered Uniform Guard. If they interfered, they might get themselves dragged in.

Just at that moment, someone at the doorway was heard saying in a leisurely drawl, "Even honored inspectors need evidence of a crime to arrest someone. Arresting people without proof or basis—and laying hands on people from our own yamen at that—is this bullying Xuzhou for having no one?"

"Who's spouting nonsense there!"

"Say one more word and we'll arrest you too!"

The two who had stayed in place roared. They noticed that everyone was looking toward the door. This Xuzhou was truly a strange place—even the Embroidered Uniform Guard couldn't keep the situation under control.

"On what grounds do you arrest people? Without proof or basis, on what grounds do you arrest Lord Li!"

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Thank you to old friends Yuanheng Lizhen and 123* for the tips. The second update is at 10 a. m.