Zhang Chen shot out like an arrow, grabbing Huang Wenyi by the shoulder and dragging him back, then throwing him heavily to the ground.
Things have already escalated today; I've killed the County Magistrate and County Commandant, so you, this treacherous merchant, are no exception!
Today, I will settle both old and new scores and finish you off!
"Ouch!"
Huang Wenyi's obese body was instantly thrown into a dizzying mess. He looked up and met Zhang Chen's murderous eyes, which startled him. He quickly knelt down and repeatedly kowtowed.
"Zhang Gongzi, Young Master, please spare me, spare me! This... this... this was all that bastard Zhao Xiong who made me do it, it wasn't my idea!"
Zhang Chen said coldly, "Huang Wenyi, back then my father sponsored you because he saw your business acumen. He repeatedly warned you that honesty and trustworthiness are paramount in business, but you cast his teachings aside. Over the years, how many unethical deeds have you done? Can you even count them yourself? Since Zhao Xiong took office, you've become even more brazen and colluded with him! Today, I, Zhang Zifan, will rectify the business practices in this county, and I must get rid of you!"
"No... no... don't kill me! I'll give you money, I'll give you as much money as you want! Please don't kill me!"
Money? When you're dead, your property, your shops, everything you have will be mine. Why would I need you to give it to me?
"Let me spare you? Why don't you ask the people in this entire city if they agree!"
"Kill him!"
"Kill him!"
"Huang Wenyi, two years ago during the great drought, you hoarded grain and inflated prices. Zhang Jiao died of starvation because he couldn't afford food!"
"Your Huang Family's pharmacy sells fake medicine. My mother died from drinking your family's medicine and couldn't be cured!"
"My child too, you surnamed Huang! Give me back my child!"
...
The crowd was filled with righteous indignation. Over the years, Huang Wenyi had done too many heartless things, and the people clearly hated him to the bone.
"No... no... it's not like this... I was wrong, don't kill me, spare me!"
Huang Wenyi looked at the people of the city, not a single one speaking up for him, and a deep sense of despair rose in his heart.
Zhang Chen sneered, and the blade in his hand drew a beautiful arc, leaving a line of blood across Huang Wenyi's neck.
Huang Wenyi stared blankly at the person before him. At this moment, he was filled with immense regret. If only he hadn't made trouble for the Zhang Family in the beginning, perhaps today wouldn't have...
Forget it, maybe in the next life...
Huang Wenyi closed his eyes in despair, a tear tracing his cheek. Immediately after, his body fell.
The blade in his hand was covered in blood, dripping drop by drop from the tip.
Zhang Chen looked at the three corpses before him, closed his eyes, and pondered deeply.
Now that the main culprits have been eliminated, there is no turning back. At this moment, subduing the constables and taking the city by force, while not difficult, would solidify the crime of rebellion. In the future, there would likely be constant attacks, making peaceful development difficult.
The most pressing task is to stabilize the situation first and ensure a smooth transition. This is the best strategy.
But how to stabilize the situation?
Zhang Chen secretly calculated and felt that this was not a difficult matter.
The court's political situation is already in chaos. The death of a County Magistrate seems like a big deal, but it can be made big or small. As long as the superior official in the commandery is appeased, this matter won't cause a huge uproar!
I heard earlier that Lord Li Wen, the Prefect of Wei Commandery, is an upright official and has long been dissatisfied with people like Zhao Xiong. Although killing Zhao Xiong is a serious crime, ultimately, it's just a matter of a word from the Prefect.
What needs to be done now is to fully win the hearts of the people.
Thinking of this, Zhang Chen threw the blade aside and said to the few constables beside him, "Brothers, please quickly tie me up and escort me to the commandery to surrender!"
"Young Master, you mustn't!" Steward Wu was greatly alarmed upon hearing this. "Going to the commandery is no different from seeking your own death!"
Zhang Chen shook his head and said, "Although I was forced to kill these three today, it is still a serious crime. Unauthorized killing of court officials is equivalent to rebellion. I absolutely cannot let the people of this entire city suffer because of me alone! I only hope that the next County Magistrate sent by the court will be a good official who loves his people like his children. If so, I can die in peace."
As Zhang Chen spoke, tears couldn't help but fall. He turned to Steward Wu and said, "Wu Bo, remember, after I die, the matter of distributing porridge to aid the people must continue and not be abandoned!"
"Young Master..."
"You can't take Zhang Gongzi away! Zhang Gongzi is innocent!"
"That's right, it was that Zhao Xiong who oppressed the people and acted perversely first; he deserved to die!"
"That's right, if you want to take Zhang Gongzi away, you'll have to step over our corpses!"
Seeing this, the few constables were at a loss, unsure of what to do.
Although they weren't familiar with Zhang Chen, they knew that the Zhang Family had always been charitable, and not a few people in the city had benefited from their kindness. Today, Zhang Gongzi was here distributing porridge properly, but that dog official Zhao Xiong deliberately came to make trouble and ultimately lost his life. What did that have to do with Zhang Gongzi!
"Zhang Gongzi has a benevolent heart! Why not take the position of County Magistrate! Only then will we have a way to live!"
"Yes, I support Zhang Gongzi as County Magistrate!"
"I support him too!"
"I support him too!"
Someone in the crowd shouted, immediately drawing a chorus of responses from the people.
Zhang Chen's heart was filled with joy. It seemed the original owner's father had indeed done many good deeds back then, which was why the Zhang Family had such high popular support in Guangping County. Now that the people's hearts are with me, what great matter cannot be accomplished?
Zhang Chen calculated in his mind, but said aloud, "No, I have already killed the County Magistrate and County Commandant. If I were to usurp their position again, wouldn't I truly become a rebel? This absolutely cannot be done, absolutely not!"
In the past, when Duke Wen of Jin was granted a position, he declined three times before accepting. Zhang Chen naturally understood this principle. The act must be complete!
Just as Zhang Chen was feigning refusal, Hua Tuo, who was nearby, spoke leisurely, "Zhang Gongzi, a true man should not yield in benevolence. Since Gongzi has a benevolent heart, this is how it should be, and it is also what the people desire."
Zhang Chen was startled, not expecting Hua Tuo to say this. He quickly said, "Sir, Zifan was reckless and caused Sir's medical blade to be stained with blood. It is my sin."
Hua Tuo stroked his beard and smiled slightly, "Not so. A physician saves lives, which is certainly not wrong. However, under the medical blade, there is no distinction between good and evil, right and wrong; all are lives. Gongzi killed the wicked and saved the people of the entire city; his merit is even greater."
"What this Sir says is reasonable." A young man dressed as a scholar stepped forward and said to everyone, "Fellow villagers, since that Zhao Xiong took office, we have suffered under his oppression and exploitation, living in misery! Today, fortunately, Zhang Gongzi acted on behalf of heaven and personally slew this villain. How can we stand by and watch him suffer imprisonment and the threat of the blade without doing anything!"
After saying this, the young man knelt before Zhang Chen, "Please, Zhang Gongzi, do not yield in benevolence. Take over the position of County Magistrate and save the people of our city from suffering!"
"Please, Zhang Gongzi, take over the position of County Magistrate..."
Immediately, many people knelt down one after another.
Seeing this, Steward Wu quickly moved closer to Zhang Chen and whispered, "Young Master, this is the wish of the people; you cannot refuse any longer. Why not go along with everyone's wishes?"
Zhang Chen also saw that the moment was right. He immediately said, "Since all you villagers show me such favor, I, Zhang, dare not refuse any longer. Before the new County Magistrate arrives, I, Zhang, will temporarily act as County Magistrate. If the Prefect holds me accountable in the future, I, Zhang, will bear all responsibility alone!"
"Greetings, Zhang Chen!"
As soon as his voice fell, the people knelt down and kowtowed in worship.
Seeing this, the few constables also knelt down and kowtowed.
For these constables, no matter who became County Magistrate, they would just be following orders. Besides, compared to Zhao Xiong, Zhang Chen was clearly a much better master.
"Haha, good." Hua Tuo stroked his beard and said, "I didn't expect to pass through this place today and have such a remarkable encounter! Zhang Chen, don't worry. I am on this journey precisely because I was invited by Lord Li, the Prefect of Wei Commandery, to rush to the commandery to treat his wife's chronic illness. I will truthfully report today's events and absolutely will not let Lord suffer."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen was overjoyed.
Hua Tuo was a famous physician of his time, highly respected both in and out of court. If he could mediate, and Zhang Chen could also find a way to befriend the Prefect, this matter would surely be suppressed! This would save a lot of trouble.
Thinking of this, Zhang Chen put on a look of great delight and hurriedly bowed, "In that case, Zifan thanks Senior. If I can overcome this great disaster, I will repay Senior's great kindness by tying grass and holding rings in my mouth in the future. May I know Senior's name?"
"Haha, I am Hua Tuo, courtesy name Yuanhua, from Qiao County in Pei Commandery. I am just an itinerant physician, Lord, there is no need for such formality."