Chapter 4428: Take a Look at This
uo Fengtang curled his lips, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes.“Out of three thousand gallons of water, I would only take a single scoop to drink. If I can't marry the woman I love, all the other...Others are unaware of Luofengtang's itinerary, but Yèyī knows.
The master left Changping Village and bid farewell to his wife on the tenth day of the first lunar month. The master had originally intended to return to Tianhai County in secret to investigate, but halfway there, he received a secret edict from the capital.
Then the master changed direction and went to the capital city in secret to meet with the emperor.
The master told the emperor what, Ye Yi didn't know. But Ye Yi knew that the master must have consulted the emperor about the affairs of Tianhai County, and the emperor must have instructed something.
How is the old man you brought back a few days ago doing
Luo Feng Tang suddenly asked Ye Yi.
Upon regaining his senses, the man said, “Reporting to Master, the old man’s wounds are almost healed. He woke up two hours ago and said he wanted to see you. However, as you were at a banquet, I did not make arrangements.”
Luo Fengtang stood up. "Take me to see him now."
Last night, after looking at the bowl of sobering soup on the table, he said, "Master, you drank two jars of wine during the banquet..."
Luo Fengtang smiled dismissively, "Just two jugs of wine, it's nothing. Let's go."
Ye Yi looked seriously into Luofeng Tang's eyes, and indeed there was a clear gaze within them, not the slightest trace of drunkenness.
>
The master is still the master, two jars of poisoned wine didn't affect him at all.
It seems that Deputy General Xie's appearance here previously was just a feigned drunkenness to fool the master
Wow, you're really skilled!
Yè Yī's admiration for him grew even deeper. He clasped his hands together in a salute and said, "As you command!"
Then, turning around, Luo Fengtang led the way. Under the cover of night, the two arrived silently at the back of the garden.
The most dangerous place is also the safest, the old man was placed in a corner of the annex as a mess hall soldier.
In the shadow outside the house left alone at night, Luofengtang single-handedly entered this inconspicuous dwelling.
In the room, a gaunt old man sat on his bed, emaciated by hunger. When Luofeng Tang entered, the old man struggled to get off the bed to kneel and kowtow, but Luofeng Tang stopped him.
"Elder, there's no need for such a grand greeting. It's best if you simply sit up in bed." Luo Fengtang said.
His approachable manner was a stark contrast to the cold and haughty general he was during the day, someone people were too afraid to approach.
The old man sat back down, looking at Luofeng Tang, tears streaming down his face.
“General, you have saved my life. I should be grateful to you, but honestly, I don't want to live anymore. My family is gone, and I am the only one left. There is no hope for me to go on living...”
The old man's words caused Luofeng Tang's brows to furrow.
“Grandpa, you mustn't say that. Your family members in heaven hope you will live on,” Luo Fengtang said.
"Because they died with a grievance, they hope you can help them seek revenge so that they can rest in peace!" Luo Fengtang added.
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This old man was rescued on the road to Tianhai County a few days ago. At that time, the old man was lying in the grass by the roadside, barely alive, with wounds on his body.
Hearing Luofengtang's words of comfort, the old man shook his head and looked terrified.
"Revenge What revenge, General They are all our local officials, appointed by the Emperor himself. Their words hold more weight than even the Emperor's! Who dares seek revenge" said the old man.
“From last spring to this year, for a whole year, my six big tile-roofed houses, ten acres of farmland, the three pigs in the backyard, one cow, and twenty or thirty chickens, ducks, and geese, were all turned into taxes and collected by them.”
“Paying taxes when building a house, paying taxes when marrying a wife, paying taxes when the harvest comes in autumn, and paying taxes during the winter New Year.”
“Our family is really at our wit's end. The tax collector came again last time, and my son, unable to contain his anger, killed one of the tax collectors.”
“He was really killed wrongly, without fighting back, my son would have been beaten to death by them.”
“As a result, my son was arrested and thrown into jail. Before I could sell my house to make connections or even get to court, he was beaten to death in prison!”
“My wife couldn't bear this blow and died within a few days. Those people colluded with the local thugs, and officials were involved too. They took advantage of the night to break into my house, knocked me unconscious, and entered my daughter-in-law's room, where they defiled her...”
“My good daughter-in-law was a strong-willed woman. She couldn't stand this humiliation. When dawn broke, she asked a neighbor to take my grandson to his maternal grandparents' place and then hanged herself.”
“As an old man, I refuse to accept this! I came to the Tianhai County magistrate's office to beat the grievance drum, but after just a few strikes, two constables caught me. The magistrate didn't even ask about my situation before beating me with a board and throwing me out!”
"They openly attacked me, drove me away, and secretly incited those hoodlums in the county to bother me. This Hai County is simply unbearable. The old man wants to escape. I was chased all the way, luckily I met you generals!"
Hearing the old man's tragic tale, Luofeng Tang's brow furrowed tightly together, her eyes icy cold, colder than an ice cellar.
"Old man, you must live a long life. For your son and daughter-in-law who died unjustly, for your surviving grandchildren, you have to live well. I will help you avenge this blood debt!"
Luo Fengtang raised his hand and tightly grasped the old man's hand, saying word by word.
The old man stared intently at Luofeng Tang, "General, can you really help this old man seek justice But...but they are all officials with powerful backers..."
Luo Fengtang said: "Who is their biggest backer"
The old man blurted out, “It’s General Protector of the Nation, Luofengtang. I heard that the taxes which have been increased several times are all to show respect to General Protector of the Nation, to stockpile food and supplies for the troops…”
Luo Fengtang's eyes darkened, he asked the old man, "Old sir, can you read"
The old man nodded: "I learned to read back in my younger years because I needed to keep accounts for two years."
Luofeng Tang took off a token from his waist and flipped it over to show the old man.
>
“This... is Luo You, you are...”
“Yes, I am Luofengtang, the great general who protects the country.” Luofengtang said.
The old man was so startled that his eyes almost popped out of their sockets. His whole body trembled, and he grabbed the teacup on the table with both hands, ready to smash it at Luo Fengtang.
Luo Fengtang drew another sword from behind his back. With a clang, the blade separated from its scabbard.
The fleeting gleam scorched the old man's eyes, and he turned his head aside, raising his arm to shield them.
Once again, Luo Fengtang's voice rang in his ear: "Old man, take a look at the characters engraved on this sword!"
The old man narrowed his eyes, stared at the blade for a while, and uttered several words: "Shang, Fang, Bao, Jian!"
"This... This is the Imperial Seal Sword, only an Emperor can possess, as mentioned in the play" The old man was even more astonished, his voice trembling as he asked.
“I knew it, old man, I knew it! General Protector of the Nation is a hero, he wouldn't collude with those corrupt officials to prey on our common people…” The old man was so moved that tears streamed down his face, but in his cloudy eyes, a faint glimmer flickered.
Luo Fengtang glanced back, making a shushing gesture to the old man.
Then he sheathed his sword, and with a calm expression, said to the old man: "I am General Luofengtang, the guardian of the country, and also an imperial envoy appointed by the emperor. I am here to investigate the case of exorbitant taxes in Tianhaigun. This sword is a Shangfang sword bestowed upon me by the emperor. It is used to execute corrupt officials and scoundrels, uphold justice, and redress grievances for the people!"
A genius in one second:
>it, several figures, both male and female, suddenly appeared out of thin air. They rushed from all directions toward the center, converging on Xu Daguai like a swarm of bees.Some had ropes in their ha...