Magistrate Shen left the palace in high spirits, and immediately returned to the Wanping County Office to investigate the case vigorously. When Fourth Master Wang started to complain, he immediately blocked his mouth and beat the once powerful tyrant in South City with a small board. On the same day, he dispatched three groups of yamen runners to rescue the men and women who had not yet been sold from a certain nest.
Because of this thunderous action, County Magistrate Shen immediately gained the name of Shen Qingtian among the victims. Only he knew that the accurate sources of information and the witnesses and evidences that he voluntarily provided all came from those vibrant folk groups in the outer city. As for the three words "Iron Clothes Gang", the official would naturally never admit it.
The four words "forming cliques" are a taboo in the government. But since it is beneficial to him, he certainly will not refuse such help. As for some people who spread rumors in his ears that the Iron Clothes Gang is the subordinates of a certain follower of the Imperial College Doctor Zhang Shou, he turned a deaf ear to them, and even severely reprimanded an old servant who had followed him for many years.
Zhang Shou had only been in the capital for less than a year, how could he have such ability? It was more likely that Zhang Shou was just helping the emperor to take the blame.
Within one day, under the quick disposal of County Magistrate Shen, all of Fourth Master Wang's followers, power, and assets were uprooted, and a power vacuum immediately appeared in the South City - or the Outer City.
However, even those who were salivating over the opportunity could only wait and see, not dare to cross the line. After all, the bigwigs in the court were still watching the situation, so who would dare to rashly reach out at this time
The local tyrants in Nancheng who dared not to take action soon felt lucky for their choice. Because in the Wanping County Court, they arrested a large number of Wang Siye and his men on charges of kidnapping and trafficking, and then interrogated and dealt with them one by one. Many of them were sentenced to death with a waitlist for execution. Now that all the verdicts have been sent to the Dali Temple at the fastest speed, the Wang family's territory has a new owner.
It was not what people speculated in the dark. The person who, Zhang Shou, the doctor of the Imperial College, decided to make a fortune before his marriage and who personally led people to take over these industries in an orderly manner in the evening, turned out to be Wan Yuanbao, the richest man in Beijing!
And what was later reported about Wan Yuanbao's words after he took over was even more jaw-dropping.
"Wang Si and his cronies are extremely evil. Most of their land and property were obtained illegally and should have been confiscated. However, County Master Shen has reported that since the censor has personally questioned this matter in the court, the emperor should personally take care of the aftermath. Rather than confiscating the land and then letting the Ministry of Revenue sell it, which may not fetch a good price, it is better to give it directly to me, who at least has a reputation for fairness."
"Since County Master Shen trusts me so much, I will ask the students of the Jiuzhang Hall of the Imperial College to estimate the price, and then pay the corresponding money. County Master Shen of Wanping County will compensate those victims. It just so happens that I copied a book from the Wang family that recorded the years of plundering and selling slaves, forced buying and selling, seizing property, killing and injuring people, etc. County Master Shen is also a smart person, and he will not be blackmailed by the unruly people."
When hearing this, many people were depressed. People have always said that if a family falls, the court will be well fed, and corrupt officials will run their business for a lifetime, but in the end, they will have nothing. However, this is a great opportunity for many dignitaries to take advantage of the opportunity to make money, because what is the use of the property that has been confiscated? In the end, it will still be sold!