met free Chapter 122 The Unlucky Magistrate Kong
Chapter 122 The Unlucky Magistrate Kong
Li Zhen and his group went directly to the Neihuang County Government Office. For some reason, it was deserted today; there wasn't even a gatekeeper. The main gate was ajar, and through the crack, they could hear a commotion coming from inside.
Li Zhen pushed open the gate of the county government office and walked in. As soon as he entered the courtyard, he heard loud shouts coming from the house near the entrance.
"Big! Big! Big!... Hahaha... I won this round again!"
"Give me the money, give me the money!"
几人相互对视一眼，最后在李振的示意下，岳鹏一脚就将房门踢开，只见里面乌烟瘴气，六七个衙役和小吏聚在一起耍钱。桌上散落着各式各样的赌具，铜钱、骨牌、骰子，在昏黄的烛光下闪烁着诱人的光芒。
空气瞬间仿佛凝固，李振与岳鹏等人的闯入，如同两道惊雷，瞬间打破了这室内的沉闷与喧嚣。那些赌得正酣的衙役小吏，猛然抬头，面面相觑，他们看到对方一身素装，刚才还有些忌惮的心思瞬间消失的无影无踪。
一名捕快模样的人走上前来问道：“你们是干什么的？为何要强闯县衙，知不知道叨扰了本大爷的雅兴，最好给老子一个合理的解释，要不然让你们吃不了兜着走！”
As he spoke, he walked towards Yue Peng and tried to grab Yue Peng's collar.
Since Yue Peng joined Li Zhen, he and Yue Ying have been working hard to improve their physical fitness whenever they have free time, so that ordinary constables can't get close to them.
As expected, a cry of pain was heard as Yue Peng firmly gripped the constable's outstretched hand, causing him to yell in pain.
Seeing their accomplice captured, the others grabbed whatever was nearby and tried to rush towards Yue Peng and his group. Seeing this, the thug immediately shouted, "Are you all blind?! This man before you is Prefect Li of Anyang! Are you trying to rebel?"
Everyone was stunned: What? This is Li Zhen, the prefect, who is the county magistrate's superior?
The yamen runners and clerks put down what they were carrying. One of the clerks even wiped the stool he had just picked up vigorously and placed it in front of Li Zhen with a fawning smile.
"Sir, you have come from afar and must be tired from your journey. I have taken the liberty of preparing this small stool for you, hoping it can alleviate your fatigue and allow you to rest for a while."
对于这些人李振并不想多说一句话，他冷哼一声问道：“你们的县令呢？”
刚才说话的小吏立即回答：“回大人的话，县令大人今日被城北的王举人给邀请过去赏花了，现在这个时辰应该还在王举人家中。小人这就去将县令大人喊回来。”
Li Zhen: "No need, just show me the way, we'll go straight to him."
Although the minor official didn't want to do this job that would offend people, he shrank back and nodded in agreement when he saw the burly Yue Peng beside him.
内黄县城不大，位于安阳府的东面，由于此地不是什么交通要道，也就没怎么建设，让人看上去有股衰败的景象。
Yue Peng drove the armored vehicle and had the minor official sit in the passenger seat to give directions. It was the first time the minor official had ever seen such a metal-bodied vehicle. His eyes kept glancing at the cold metal shell, and he wondered to himself: How could there be such a strange thing in this world? It doesn't need to be pulled by a horse, but can move as fast as the wind on its own. What kind of magical power is driving it?
After leaving the county town, it took another ten minutes or so to reach the manor of the scholar Wang, which the minor official had mentioned. It was the busy farming season, and farmers could be seen working everywhere in the fields on both sides of the road.
Through the glass, Li Zhen saw that the farmers working there had pale, sickly faces, and their thin bodies slowly dragged their farm tools as they worked. Li Zhen, who was very familiar with this era, knew that this was the complexion of someone who hadn't had enough to eat for a long time.
Wangjiazhuang is named after the local people with the surname Wang who gathered there. It has gone through countless generations to reach its current size.
王举人家位置非常显眼，只要沿着道路找到村子里最大的那处宅院就行了，老远李振就能听见从院子里传来欢声笑语，中间还夹杂着丝丝乐音。
Unaware of the impending doom, Kong Fanxue, the magistrate of Neihuang County, was currently drinking heartily with Wang, a scholar who had just arrived from Lin'an to take up his post. He was finally free from the wrath of the officials in the capital. Although he had spent a full thousand taels of silver, he believed that the money would soon be back in his hands within two years.
They were drinking Erguotou, the most popular liquor on the market. This liquor was not only expensive, but also had a high alcohol content. After a few drinks, Kong Fanxue suddenly became inspired to write poetry and, with his arm around the beautiful woman beside him, was about to recite a poem.
Just as he was about to speak, a servant from the Wang family rushed in in a panic, interrupting Magistrate Kong's pleasant conversation.
"Master, something terrible has happened. There's a strange-looking car parked in front of our house, and the person inside says he's the Prefect of Anyang."
Scholar Wang said irritably, "What's the rush? He's just the Prefect of Anyang. You've made a fool of yourself in front of Magistrate Kong. What? You mean the Prefect himself?"
Realizing what was happening, Wang, the scholar, plopped down on the ground. He hadn't expected the prefect to come here.
After being helped up by his servants, Wang, the scholar, said nervously, "Quickly open the gate; we must welcome the Prefect."
"No need, since Scholar Wang and Magistrate Kong are so busy, I'll just come in myself."
A simple, elegant dress fluttered as Li Zhen stepped in, his movements exuding a remarkable sense of freedom and refinement.
His arrival was like a gentle breeze, lightly dispersing the surrounding dust. Closely following behind were Yue Peng and Bu Liang, the two following their master closely, their steps steady and tacit, inspiring a sense of heroic spirit in those who watched them.
至于那些先前试图阻拦的家丁，早已在岳鹏迅疾而精准的动作下，一一失去了抵抗力，或瘫倒在地，或面露惊惧，场面被他轻易化解。
Kong Fanxue reeked of alcohol. He stared at Li Zhen with slightly red eyes and asked, "Are you the newly appointed prefect of Anyang, and formerly the magistrate of Tangyin County?"
The scoundrel beside him scolded, "How can you not kneel before your superior? Have you completely forgotten etiquette and moral principles?"
The shout was like a thunderclap suddenly sounding in the cold wind, making the surrounding air tremble.
孔凡学扑通一下跪在了李振的跟前：“下官内黄县令，拜见李大人。由于下官是第一次见到李大人，刚才是想核实一下您的身份，还望大人莫怪。”
Li Zhen didn't even glance at Kong Fanxue kneeling on the ground. He walked straight to the table and sat down. He saw that the table was full of various dishes and desserts, and several empty bottles of liquor were just sitting there. Upon closer inspection, he realized that they were the Erguotou liquors he had sold.
Li Zhen: "Oh my, Magistrate Kong is living a good life, with so much delicious food. Fine wine, delicious food, and beautiful women—I am truly envious."
Wang, the scholar who was kneeling on the ground, looked up at Li Zhen and said, "Please don't be offended, sir. I will have someone change your clothes immediately to ease your fatigue from the journey."
Kong Fanxue smiled and said, "This is my first time meeting you, sir. I would be honored if you would grant me the pleasure of having a few cups of wine with me."
"Snapped!"
A bottle of unopened Erguotou liquor was smashed on the ground, its rich aroma instantly filling the entire courtyard. However, the people kneeling on the ground had no time to notice; they remained kneeling there in silence, tense.
可能是喝了几杯酒的缘故，孔凡学竟然自己从地上爬了起来。
"Why is Lord Li doing this? Please enlighten us, sir."
Seeing Kong Fanxue's sudden change in attitude, Li Zhen laughed: "Why? As the magistrate of Neihuang County, you neglect county affairs in broad daylight and come here to drink. As your superior, am I not allowed to ask you?"