Chapter 102: How to Win Over Magistrate Wu
led wryly, pointing at himself. "Entrusting your family to your enemy I really don't know what you were thinking! Aren't you afraid that I'll take over your family business and then abandon your famil...What are you yelling for! You're awake in the middle of the night, aren't you a freak
Zhou Zhengyang didn't open his eyes, rolled over, and cursed.
"Bang!"
The next moment, the door was kicked open, and a squad of torch-wielding yamen rushed in.
Zhou Zhengyang was just about to continue cursing when he opened his eyes to see so many people bursting in. He was taken aback.
Immediately, the sight that greeted him was nothing but government officials. Leading the pack was none other than Zhang Wu, the very same official who had once fawned over him. Zhou Zhengyang erupted in a torrent of curses once again.
"What do you want Did I let you in Get out of here!"
Zhou Zhengyang angrily pointed at the door.
Only after he finished scolding did he finally sober up and hear the cries coming from outside.
Yang Lin immediately came in, surrounded by a group of people.
"Yang Lin You... how did you get here"
"Come here, quick! Grab this scoundrel!"
Zhou Zhengyang's eyes widened, and he shouted loudly.
He knew that his father and Zhao County Magistrate were taking people to deal with Yang Lin tonight.
Now...
How could Yang Lin be in his own bedroom in the middle of the night, with so many guards
"Why aren't you making a move yet"
Zhou Zhengyang glared fiercely at the yamen servant, gritting his teeth and snarling: "You bunch of dog slaves! You don't even listen to my orders, aren't you afraid that my father will punish you"
Yang Lin sneered: "Young Master Zhou, you're still asleep Your days of relying on your father and bullying others are over."
"Take it away!"
Yang Lin waved his hand, and the yamen officers immediately stepped forward, dragging Zhou Zhengyang, who was still in a daze, off the bed and binding him tightly with ropes.
"You, you have such guts! What kind of brainwashing did Yang Lin put on you Why do you listen to him My father will not let you off!"
Even after being dragged off the bed, Zhou Zhengyang was still cursing and hadn't realized what was happening.
Zhang Wu kicked him with his foot.
“Shut up! Your father intended to murder the Earl, he deserves death! We were all deceived by your father. Fortunately, the Earl was generous and didn't blame us. Now we are loyal to the Earl! Do you think you are still some kind of young master If the Earl is merciful, you can continue to be a young master in prison for the rest of your life!”
At this moment, Zhang Wu was eager to distance himself from the Zhou family, so he put in even more effort.
Dad got arrested
To assassinate a lord Who is the lord
Zhou Zhengyang was completely dumbfounded.
When he was shoved by the officers into the courtyard, the entire Zhou family was already under their control.
Zhou Kun's wife, three concubines, Zhou Zhengyang's elder brother... and a whole host of servants, maidservants, and slaves were all tied up tight.
Everyone is here, not a single one has run out!
Zhong Tao came over to report.
Yang Lin nodded. "Tao Ge, immediately arrange to have these people interrogated separately. Dig up all the bad things and evil deeds the Zhou family has done over the years, and get confessions as soon as possible!"
"One can break through by starting with the servants. Tell them that if they report, they will not only be able to reduce their sentence, avoid punishment, or even receive a reward."
"But if you know about it and don't report it, and we find out later, your crime will be elevated to a higher degree!"
"Okay."
Zhong Tao immediately made arrangements.
As long as no one runs away, the news won't leak. Therefore, Yang Lin decided to first thoroughly deal with the Zhou family before going after the Zhao family!
To Yang Lin's surprise, the interrogation ended in less than an hour. As the saying goes, "When a tree falls, the monkeys scatter." Although the common people didn't know what had happened to bring about the Zhou family's downfall, they could see from the current situation that the Zhou family was finished!
And Yang Lin also put forward the policy of "leniency for those who confess and severity for those who resist." Those people who didn't want to speak up at first, were also worried that if they didn't speak, others would, and then they wouldn't only miss out on rewards but would also be punished more severely...
Therefore, they were all very proactive in their admissions.
After all, many bad things and evils were instructed by the Zhou family, and they only acted on orders, acting as lackeys. They even took this opportunity to confess and pushed all the blame onto the Zhou family.
After completing the statement, pressing fingerprints, and signing...the whole process went very smoothly.
Even Zhou Kun's concubines and Zhou Zhengyang admitted to several crimes!
When Zhong Tao arrived at Yang Lin's location with a thick stack of confessions, his anger was so palpable that his hands trembled.
"Boss, take a look! These bastards, they all deserve to die!"
When Zhong Tao handed over the statement to Yang Lin, his face was already contorted with rage.
Yang Lin went over these confessions, mentally prepared for what he might find. The Zhou family even colluded with bandits and had run rampant in Jianghe County for so many years. He didn't believe they hadn't done anything wrong.
As he flipped through the pages, Yang Lin's anger grew increasingly out of control.
"What the **, you animals!"
Yang Lin's lips were trembling with anger.
A total of twenty-eight testimonies record Zhou's crimes, which number at least over fifty!
This involves strong-arm tactics, arbitrary assault on others, rape of women, and forcing them into prostitution.
Even to seize land, they beat people to death in the streets!
When someone went to the county office to report the crime, the person who reported it was beaten to death by them!
The crimes committed are too numerous to list!
"Master, what should we do with these people" Zhong Tao asked.
"Stay here for now, and report to the authorities at daybreak!" Yang Lin said.
Tonight, whatever the truth of this baron's claims, everything done is absolutely illegal.
Therefore, he couldn't just keep acting so recklessly. He wasn't really trying to rebel, so he had to find a legal way to end this bold action tonight.
This is also the reason why Yang Lin wanted to collect testimonies.
As long as the final result is presentable, does the process really matter
By then, both the Zhou family and Zhao family will have confessed and received their due punishment. No one will be able to exonerate them. When the results are a foregone conclusion, we can openly and aboveboard eliminate them!
Zhong Tao left two guards, armed with bows and crossbows, to watch over the prisoner.
Outside, twenty villagers guarded the perimeter and courtyard walls.
Yang Lin, leading the remaining people, immediately rushed to the Zhao family.
With the experience from dealing with the Zhou family, the process of taking down the Zhao family was much smoother.
By the time all members of Zhao's family were tied up and confessed, dawn was about to break.
Zhao Deyi's family has committed no fewer crimes than the Zhou family. Each and every one of them is against heaven and earth, something that everyone condemns!
Although they had been up all night, everyone was wide awake.
As everyone knows, the most important moment is about to arrive!
To take down the Zhou and Zhao families, they relied on military force.
...and then how to openly and fairly put them in jail to be punished...
That was a clash with Magistrate Wu Rong!
To keep tonight's events within control, we need Wu Yong's cooperation.
But whether Wu Yong can be dealt with is the most concerning issue for everyone right now.
Wu Yong was a seventh-rank county magistrate, a true official appointed by the imperial court. Even though Yang Lin held a title, he had no legal authority to interfere in government affairs.
If Wu Yong doesn't cooperate, then everything becomes a mystery...land and open a brick kiln. You’re more familiar with this area, so I’d like to hear your advice.”Song Qian, upon hearing this, frowned and asked in puzzlement, "Why would the Master open a brick kiln...