Several people arrived at the inner hall. Han Xuan sat high on the south side, while Pan Feng, Zhang Chen, Ju Shou, and Gao Shun all stood below the steps.
Zhang Chen immediately ordered someone to serve fragrant tea.
After drinking, Han Xuan slightly raised his eyes, sized up Zhang Chen, and then said, "You are this county's County Magistrate? State your surname and given name, and your background, one by one."
Zhang Chen said, "Your humble subordinate's surname is Zhang, given name Chen, courtesy name Zifan. I am from Guangping County, and my ancestors have been engaged in commerce for generations."
"Hmph, a descendant of merchants..." As soon as Han Xuan heard this, a look of disdain immediately appeared in his eyes.
Scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants – merchants were ranked last. In this era that prioritized agriculture and suppressed commerce, they were the most looked down upon.
"Your humble subordinate comes from a humble background, please excuse me, Lord."
After Zhang Chen finished speaking, he slightly bowed and performed a salute.
This series of actions was humble, polite, and appropriate, causing the nearby Pan Feng to feel a bit of respect.
But upon thinking of last night, when Huang accused him of disregarding human life and forcibly seizing others' property, Pan Feng couldn't help but show a hint of anger.
Han Xuan then said, "Do you possess the qualifications of Filial Piety and Incorruptibility or Flourishing Talent?"
Zhang Chen said, "Lord, you jest. Your humble subordinate did not enter officialdom through recommendation."
Upon hearing this, Han Xuan couldn't help but secretly rejoice in his heart.
Humble background, not entering officialdom through recommendation... If this official position wasn't bought, what else could it be?
The nearby Pan Feng, hearing these words, couldn't help but furrow his brow, and his gaze towards Zhang Chen immediately held a few more hints of contempt.
Since the first year of Guanghe (178 AD), Emperor Ling openly sold official positions and titles, from the small County Commandant and County Magistrate to the large Prefects and Governors, and even the Three Ducal Ministers and Nine Ministers were clearly priced. All the money obtained from selling offices was stored in the Western Garden, historically known as "Selling Offices in the Western Garden."
The practice of selling official positions and titles was certainly not desirable, but it was personally initiated by the Emperor. How could others dare to say more?
But since the official position was bought with money, the person who bought it would definitely try every means to earn this money back.
How to earn it back? Of course, by exploiting the common people and squeezing their wealth!
Therefore, once the trend of selling official positions and titles became prevalent, the imperial court's administration also became corrupt, and corrupt officials were as numerous as carp crossing a river, emerging endlessly.
Based on this reasoning, the matter of Zhang Chen abusing his power, disregarding human life, and confiscating the Huang family's property became even more credible!
At that moment, Pan Feng let out a cold snort, glared angrily, and his hand was already on the hilt of his sword.
Han Xuan glanced at him, then said to Zhang Chen, "Zhang Chen, since you have neither background nor qualifications, yet you sit in this position, you must be a smart person, right? I believe you understand some rules."
Hearing this, Zhang Chen laughed inwardly. This fellow really couldn't hold back; he was about to start soliciting bribes.
Thus, Zhang Chen decided to use courtesy before force, and immediately said with a compensating smile, "Lord, this small county is poor and truly has no spare money to offer as a token of respect. But since Lord has arrived here, how could your humble subordinate dare to be negligent? Please accept this small token of appreciation, Lord."
As Zhang Chen spoke, he walked closer, took out several ingots of gold from his sleeve, and put them into Han Xuan's hand.
Bah! Corrupt official!
Pan Feng cursed silently in his heart.
Han Xuan looked at the gold Zhang Chen handed over, but a hint of contempt flashed in his eyes.
He took the gold, weighed it a few times in his hand, his face darkened, and he sneered, "It seems Zhang Chen is still not smart enough."
Damn it! As expected, he's an insatiably greedy person!
Zhang Chen cursed silently.
Seeing that Zhang Chen wasn't very perceptive, Han Xuan had to say again, "Zhang Chen, if you want to hold this bought official position for a long time, you need someone above to cover for you. You must take care of the necessary connections and never be stingy with money, don't you agree?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen was slightly taken aback.
So, this guy thought my official position was bought!
Zhang Chen immediately put away his smile and said calmly, "Lord is right, those who should be taken care of must be taken care of."
"Mm, that's right."
Upon hearing this, Han Xuan smiled slightly, thinking Zhang Chen had finally become sensible, but unexpectedly, Zhang Chen continued to speak.
"It's just a pity that your humble subordinate is in this remote small county, without connections and not knowing those important figures above. If I could gain the favor of someone like General He or Minister Yuan, your humble subordinate would serve wholeheartedly, even if it meant losing everything."
"You!" Han Xuan's face turned red and then pale, and he was immediately speechless.
Zhang Chen's words were very clear: it wasn't that there was no money, it was just that you weren't qualified enough!
Han Xuan was choked by Zhang Chen's words and immediately his face sank as he said, "Hmph! A mere small County Magistrate, yet you dare to try and cling to the powerful and influential. Since you don't know how to appreciate favors, this Lord will let you know what it means that 'the county official is not as good as the current manager'!"
After Han Xuan finished speaking, he took out the complaint from his chest and threw it over, saying, "Take a good look yourself!"
Zhang Chen picked it up and saw that it was precisely the false accusation made by Huang Wenyi's wife against him.
"Huang accuses you of abusing power for personal gain, disregarding human life, and forcibly seizing others' property. Now that the facts are all here, why don't you confess your guilt!"
After reading it, Zhang Chen smiled calmly and said, "Lord, how can such baseless claims be believed?"
Han Xuan was furious and immediately slammed the table, "Hmph! Bold Zhang Chen, you abused your power, disregarded human life, and committed such a serious crime! Now that the evidence is conclusive, are you still going to argue!"
"Evidence? Where is the evidence?" Zhang Chen smiled and said, "Lord, surely you're not going to convict your humble subordinate based solely on this one complaint?"
"You!"
Han Xuan was speechless for a moment. It seemed that apart from this complaint, he indeed had no other evidence.
However, if this Lord wants to deal with you, do I still need evidence?
Han Xuan immediately shouted, "Don't even think about denying it! Huang is currently in the inn. This Lord will immediately order someone to summon her to confront you in court!"
"That would be excellent, Lord, please do." Zhang Chen smiled slightly, looking completely confident.
Thus, Han Xuan immediately sent someone to the inn to bring Huang here.
Unexpectedly, after a moment, the attendant reported that Huang was missing.
How could she be missing? Yesterday, he had ordered people to guard her carefully.
"What! Missing? Didn't I tell you to watch her carefully? How could she be missing!"
"Lord... This, this... Your humble servant doesn't know!"
"Useless!"
Zhang Chen smiled slightly and said, "Lord, perhaps Huang felt guilty for falsely accusing your humble subordinate and left out of shame."
"Nonsense! This Lord already ordered her to be strictly guarded. How could she leave..." Han Xuan roared angrily, "Hmph! Zhang Chen, it must be you! You secretly used means to abduct Huang!"
"Lord is joking. Your humble subordinate has been here all along. How could I use means to abduct Huang?" Zhang Chen said with a smile, "Besides, how would your humble subordinate know that Huang went to Lord to file a complaint against me?"
While Zhang Chen was saying this, Gao Shun and Ju Shou, who were nearby, were suppressing their laughter.
As expected of Lord, he can tell lies without changing his expression.
As for Huang, she was naturally locked up in the County Government's prison at this time.
Yesterday, as soon as she stepped into the back door of the inn, Zhang Chen immediately knew about it.
And the men Han Xuan sent out to inquire on the streets about whether Zhang Chen had done anything illegal had also reached Zhang Chen's ears early on.
Combining these two matters, even if Zhang Chen were dumber, it wouldn't be difficult to guess Huang's purpose.
