Zhao Er hugged the dog and shook it to make it more comfortable, then shook his head indignantly: "What can he say? He just said he was following orders from above!"
Lin Sanshao suddenly asked him again: "If that's the case, how long have you been collecting rent like this?"
Zhao Er scratched his head and thought for a while, then said affirmatively, "Four years."
"Since it has been so long, the pressure is so severe, the pressure is so tight, and even someone has died, why hasn't any of you made trouble or complain?" Young Master Lin did not raise his eyes, his words were very gentle, and his tone was just one of pure doubt.
Zhao Er was even more furious: "Sue the government?! The word 'official' has two parts, where can we sue?! Can the government take care of the affairs of military households? We did sue, but we were beaten up, and some even had their prescriptions burned. There are elderly people and children at home, who doesn't want to live? Who dares to sue?! If we really couldn't make a living in the past two years, and were forced to have no way to make a living this year, who would sue?!"
Young Master Lin and Lou Bing looked at each other and fell silent.
He was born in the market, so he knew how to deal with these people. He sighed and said, "Third Master, you don't know how hard it is for the people below. Who doesn't fear the officials? Of course, we should avoid as much trouble as possible."
This sentence established an alliance with Zhao Er. When he saw Zhao Er sighing, he knew the time was almost right, so he asked again: "If that's the case, why did Dong Siyuan stand up for you? Didn't you say that Dong Siyuan was a dog official?"
Zhao Er became even more indignant: "Of course he is also a dog official. He is the head of a thousand households, but he does nothing. When people come to collect rent, he just follows them and acts as a thug..."
He paused and said, "It's not that he has a guilty conscience this time, but he is afraid of getting himself into trouble, so he confessed the King of Zhennan!"
I have asked almost all the questions and now I know everything I need to know.
Young Master Lin stood up and told Lou Bing: "Keep an eye on him."
Lou Bing knew what he meant and responded quickly. He told his subordinates a few words and then followed him out to ask, "Third Young Master, this Zhao Er was obviously pushed out by them. That Dong Siyuan doesn't sound right. What thug? The only person related to the King of Zhennan from beginning to end is a servant. The rest all depend on Dong Siyuan's mouth..."
He was surprised when he said this: "By the way, I didn't ask him who told him the whereabouts of the Prince of Zhennan..."
"Don't ask that. It's unnecessary." Lin Sanshao walked out without stopping: "Who else could it be except Dong Siyuan?"
Without even turning his head, he told Lou that he didn't need to follow him, and ordered him, "Keep an eye on Zhao Er. No visitors are allowed. Give him a separate cell."
After waiting for the building and receiving a yes, he mounted his horse and quickly went to the Lion Building near Phoenix Terrace, and went up to the third floor as if he was familiar with the place.
Recently, Princess Yonghe likes the braised beef and roast beef in the Lion House very much. She often pesters Shen Chen to come over, and Shen Chen is also often here.
As expected, he met Han Bo after a while.
As soon as Han Bo saw him, he knew that he was here to look for Shen Chen. He gestured to him and quickly disappeared. After a while, he quickly ran over to tell him: "Third Young Master, our Marquis wants you to come over."
Seeing that Third Young Master Lin was a little surprised, he quietly said, "This time it's not Princess Yonghe. The princess didn't leave the palace. It's our Marquis who is discussing something with the Princess."
It was not that the princess had become a county lady. Young Master Lin paused for a moment, then stood up as if nothing had happened and followed Han Bo into the private room.
Shen Chen was dipping Wei An in sauce. The Shizilou's beef in soy sauce was famous. When he saw Lin Sanshao, he did not forget to ask him, "Would you like another serving?"
Young Master Lin shook his head and sat down. Seeing a pot beside him, he naturally poured a cup of scented tea for Wei An: "You'll feel thirsty if you eat too much of this. It's better to eat less."
Wei An nodded and asked him, "Have you found any clues about the assassin?"
Shen Chen also stopped and looked at him: "I heard that you went to the palace. Did you pass the test?"
Young Master Lin briefly answered a few questions about his conversation with Emperor Longqing, then looked at the two of them and asked them, "Did you plan to go to Baoding before?"
Shen Chen looked at Wei An and nodded at him seriously: "It's not difficult to solve this matter, but it will take some effort to find out the truth for the prince. There is no better way except to go there."
"We have to go." Young Master Lin said as he arranged his jade pendant, "We found out that the assassin is from Baoding. He was a centurion before, but he returned to his hometown to recuperate due to illness, and his position was replaced by someone else. According to him, they have no land, but rented land, and paid rent quarterly every year, and the taxes are getting heavier every year. In the end, he couldn't stand it anymore and went out to work on the ship, but his father died, so he planned to kill Dong Siyuan for revenge. Who knew that Dong Siyuan cried and said that he was also instructed by someone, and said that he was willing to seek justice for him. That's how things happened later."
Dong Siyuan is definitely not that good.
Shen Chen put down the cup and frowned: "Then we have to go to Baoding."
Young Master Lin hummed, and then said, "It's just that I find it strange that Dong Siyuan seems to be too confident. Isn't he afraid of being investigated?"
Shen Chen knew what he meant: "What is he afraid of? If he had a fearful heart, he wouldn't dare to collect rent privately. And now he thinks he has pushed the blame onto the King of Zhennan, so he is naturally even more arrogant."
Some people really don't know how to write the word "fear", Shen Chen is very clear about this.
Lin Sanshao did not dwell on this question for any longer, but simply asked: "In that case, when do you plan to leave?"
"The sooner the better. Let's go tomorrow." Shen Chen asked him, "Did you find out anything else?"
Young Master Lin threw a piece of paper to him: "Here are the approximate distribution locations of the military households, and there is also a map of the Qianhu Division, which you may be able to use. I haven't found anything else yet. I have a case in my hands, and I have to keep an eye on the Ministry of Justice. I shouldn't leave, so be careful on your way."
He knew that Wei An would definitely go there for the Prince of Zhennan's Palace, so he did not stop him. After thinking for a while, he just reminded him: "Prince Zheng will probably be back soon, so you'd better talk to him as well."
Prince Zheng went to Chengde to supervise the renovation of the Mountain Resort on behalf of Emperor Longqing, and will be coming to Beijing in the next few days.
Wei An knew his good intentions and agreed without hesitation: "I have already written to my father to tell him about this. My grandmother is not in good health and she can't wait any longer. The longer it is delayed, the less evidence Dong Siyuan will have. We really can't wait any longer."
She was in no mood to play such games with Chu Jingxing anymore.
And she always felt that something was wrong. Chu Jingxing was holding them back to Fujian. Would they...