Chapter 154 (1/2)
Chapter 154 Green Vines: Cooperation
In the antechamber of the yamen, Governor Tian sat in the princ.i.p.al seat, while Situ and the First Prince sat flanking him while the remaining a.s.sistant county magistrates and police commissioners sat scattered in random seats around the antechamber. The a.s.sistant county magistrates and police commissioners looked at each other in dismay as Governor Tian introduced Situ and the First Prince. They were aware that the court would dispatch specialised officials to attend to the case but they did not expect the arrival of these two high-ranking officials, an imperial prince and a duke.
Situ's expression was cold while the lips of the First Prince carried a faint smile. They were like a scene of winter and spring interweaving with one another. Everyone felt that they were in extreme agony.
Silence.
Silence.
The silence was deafening.
Governor Tian had bashful look on his countenance and did not put on any airs as he addressed them, ”Everyone, you need not be troubled. Now that the special envoys sent by His Majesty have arrived, we will be able to get to the bottom of this case very soon.”
Immediately, voices of dissent arose again.
”That Lu Buping from the Demonic Sect is the murderer. You just have to dispatch someone to arrest him!”
Governor Tian glanced at Situ and First Prince who looked very composed and tactfully waved his hand. ”He is only a suspect. At most, we will ask him to come to the yamen to cooperate with the investigation. We can't simply send someone to capture him.”
”Hmph,” someone immediately ridiculed his words, ”Governor, don't tell me you're scared of the Demonic Sect? If a mere Lu Buping could easily intrude into the various large yamens and murder the county magistrates, he can also easily barge into here and kill you right?”
Governor Tian's expression changed but he still put on a very meek and even weak appearance. ”We shouldn't utter such things without basis. This matter has nothing to do with Lu Buping. It's not good to involve the Demonic Sect as we please.”
That person mocked him again. ”Governor, it's obvious that you're just scared of the Demonic Sect. Even if the yamen can't quell the Demonic Sect, isn't there still the Central Army stationed in Xiang Yang Province? There are 200 000 troops. Every one of them is valiant and skilled in warfare. With them around, what is a mere Demonic Sect? Even if we want to control the whole Jianghu…”
Before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by the shattering sound of a cup smas.h.i.+ng onto the ground.
Everyone looked at the water stain and broken fragments on the floor in surprise. Then, they looked towards Situ and the First Prince. They were the only ones who dared to do something like this.
Situ's expression was like the Grim Reaper of the Night, piercingly cold like the biting wind while his gaze that landed on them were like sharp blades that cut them until it was excruciatingly painful.
The First Prince who was sitting beside Situ still carried a smile which was as gentle as the willow in the spring breeze.
The First Prince said gently, ”Does everyone know who the Central Army receives orders from? It is His Majesty. Do you know what the Central Army is for? It's for protecting the nation and ensuring peace in our country. Right now, everyone wants to let the Central Army confront the Demonic Sect just for a Lu Buping who might be a murderer? I wonder how everyone obtained your current posts?”
His voice was soft, light and gentle. Yet it was like a knife which pierced into everyone's hearts.
The antechamber fell silent with his words. Governor Tian could only force an awkward smile on his face in an attempt to defuse the situation. Everyone became silent for a while and Governor Tian had no choice but to deride them.
Only after quite a long while did an advisor addressed First Prince deferentially, ”May I ask if Your Highness has any good suggestions? Right now, every county has already become very chaotic. If we are still unable to catch the culprit, I'm afraid that the commoners will have complaints.”
The First Prince glanced at how that person looked like and asked, ”I wonder where the a.s.sistant county magistrates from the respective counties are?”
His tone revealed a type of stateliness which made everyone felt pressured.
Immediately, fifteen people stood up. ”Your subordinates are here.”
”I order you all to temporarily take over the position and duties of the County Magistrate and manage your own subordinates, the police commissioners, properly. The priority is to pacify the commoners. Next, we are to reorganize the government affairs in the province with the aim of letting the people lead peaceful lives.”
This was the courage and resolution of a leader.
The fifteen a.s.sistant county magistrates immediately a.s.sented loudly, ”I obey.”
First Prince smiled. It was insipid yet concealed a sense of oppression in it. ”As for the matter of the culprit behind the killing of the county magistrates, I will look into it myself. I promise that within a month, I will ferret out the murderer. Therefore, I need everyone to cooperate with me and not act rashly by yourselves, otherwise…”
The First Prince stopped. Situ continued for him. His voice was so icy cold that it could seep into the bones. ”You will be dealt with according to the military law.”
Many faces turned pale. Especially Governor Tian, everyone also realized that the two leaders had intentionally let them make such a ruckus today. Then, they reminded the rest of their position in the investigation with the open display of power.
There was nothing the officials could do about it. Situ was the General-in-chief of the Northern Army and had made heroic contributions to the Xuan Kingdom by his distinguished battle achievements while Li Buhui, the General-in-chief of the Central Army, was once the Rear General of the Central Army. As for this First Prince who was not a well-known figure, although he had no power, he was a ruthless character behind a gentle appearance and his smile intimidated them. He was also definitely not an ordinary person.
Officials gradually pledged allegiance one after another but First Prince remained indifferent while Governor Tian wiped the sweat on his forehead repeatedly. Deep in his eyes were bewilderment and panic. The way things progressed is already beyond his expectations. The two people in front of him are both wise people. How is he still going to quickly settle this case so that His Majesty won't reproach him for slacking off in his work?
Only then did the First Prince raise his teacup and drank a mouthful of tea. At this moment, an officer of the yamen came running into the antechamber, panic apparent on his face.
”Things aren't good. The people have congregated outside the yamen. They heard that special amba.s.sadors have come from Chang'an and are clamouring for the perpetrator to be quickly captured! Otherwise, they will not leave until we have done so.”
The First Prince knitted his eyebrows in an almost undetectable manner. Governor Tian concealed an expression of delight which flickered past his eyes. A few police commissioners who were very rash stood up and wanted to go outside. They were even bawling, ”How dare these unruly commoners dictate how the yamen do things! Someone needs to sort them out.”
A few a.s.sistant county magistrates quickly stopped them and coughed lightly, but they looked towards the First Prince and Situ.
When the few police commissioners looked over, their expressions immediately became awkward; neither retreating nor proceeding was an option.