When Zhang Chen asked him this, Han Xuan temporarily lost his confidence.
However, this Huang was just an excuse. Han Xuan had already made up his mind; no matter how Zhang Chen tried to defend himself, he would just insist that he had disregarded human life and forcibly seized the Huang Family property.
He refused to believe that a mere County Magistrate could cause any trouble in front of him, a high official from the capital!
In this way, he could justifiably confiscate all of his property.
He had already investigated thoroughly; the Zhang Family was originally a wealthy merchant family in Guangping County, and after overthrowing the Huang Family, their business was even more prosperous, and they had now accumulated a substantial fortune.
This Zhang Chen was a fat sheep!
At that moment, Han Xuan slammed the table and roared, "Audacious Zhang Chen, the facts are clear, how can you refute them! I, your Lord, have been ordered by His Majesty to inspect the counties and prefectures, and it is precisely corrupt officials like you that the imperial court wants to remove!"
Seeing Han Xuan suddenly attack, Zhang Chen simply stopped pretending. His face darkened, and he said coldly, "Lord, are you trying to call a deer a horse and twist black and white?"
"Hmph, if you have something to say, come back to the capital with me, your Lord, and say it at the Ministry of Justice! General Pan, capture this traitor for me and escort him back to Loyang for questioning!"
With Han Xuan's command, Pan Feng, who was standing by, frowned.
Although he didn't have a good impression of Zhang Chen, you didn't present any evidence just now, did you? How can you convince the public if you arrest someone without questioning them?
So, Pan Feng quickly said, "Lord, this matter has not yet been investigated. It might be inappropriate to arrest someone rashly."
"Inappropriate? What's inappropriate! I, your Lord, now order you to immediately capture him!"
"Lord! Please reconsider!"
"Pan Feng! You are just a family servant of my Han Family, how dare you defy my, your Lord's, orders?"
As soon as these words were spoken, Pan Feng's face flushed red.
In terms of status, he came from a humble background. Although he was called a subordinate, in reality, he was no different from a servant.
However, Han Fu had always been benevolent and treated him very well on weekdays, never treating him as a servant.
It was precisely because of this that Pan Feng was loyal to Han Fu.
But this Han Xuan, Pan Feng truly detested him from the bottom of his heart. However, he was still a descendant of the Han Family, and since Han Fu had entrusted him, how could he not serve him wholeheartedly?
At that moment, Pan Feng sighed lightly and said to Zhang Chen, "Lord Zhang, please forgive my rudeness!"
Gao Shun, who was standing nearby, saw this and stepped forward, standing in front of Zhang Chen, his eyes flashing with cold light as he said, "Gao Shun is here, who dares to be presumptuous?"
"Audacious! You... are you trying to rebel? Someone! Someone!" Han Xuan saw the murderous look on Gao Shun's face and that he was actually going to resist, and he was instantly furious.
Han Xuan shouted for a long time, but no one came in.
He was used to throwing his weight around on weekdays, and he thought that since he had the imperial mandate and was a superior from the capital, the local officials would obey his orders. Little did he know that this County Government was Zhang Chen's territory, and moreover, the constables in the courtyard had already been replaced by loyal and death-defying Trapped Camp soldiers!
Things had reached this point, and it was meaningless to keep pretending.
Zhang Chen's face darkened, and he snorted coldly, "Lord, since you won't accept a toast, you'll have to accept a penalty. Someone!"
Zhang Chen roared, and a dozen or so "constables" immediately rushed in from outside the door, each with a grim expression on their face and murderous intent in their eyes.
Those constables drew their sabers and surrounded Han Xuan and Pan Feng.
Seeing this, Han Xuan was terrified and quickly said, "You... what are you going to do!"
Seeing the situation was not good, Pan Feng was about to act when Gao Shun, who was standing nearby, moved quickly and rushed forward, pressing his hand on his shoulder.
Pan Feng felt that the other person's hand strength was immense, and he struggled with all his might but was unable to break free.
Pan Feng couldn't help but be secretly shocked. He considered his martial arts to be not weak, but he didn't expect a mere County Commandant in this remote small county to possess such martial arts skills!
Zhang Chen first came to Pan Feng's side, clasped his hands in a bow, and said, "General Pan, I know you are an upright person and will not associate with this villain. Please bear with it for a while. After I deal with this villain, I will come and apologize to you."
After saying that, Zhang Chen waved his hand and said, "Take General Pan away, serve him well, and do not neglect him."
"Lord Zhang, don't be impulsive!" Pan Feng shouted repeatedly, but he was already being held by Gao Shun and dragged out the door.
Seeing this, Han Xuan couldn't help but feel worried and fearful, and he no longer had the arrogance he had just now. He said tremblingly, "Lord... Lord Zhang, let's talk it over, let's talk it over..."
"Talk it over?" Zhang Chen sneered, walked closer, and took the hundred taels of gold from his arms.
"Just now, this subordinate wanted to talk it over with your Lord, but unfortunately, your Lord was too arrogant and looked down on us small officials from these poor and remote places. Since your Lord insists on making things difficult, this subordinate can only offend you!"
After Zhang Chen finished speaking, he immediately ordered, "Someone, tie this fellow to the stone lion at the entrance of the County Government and bring a leather whip dipped in water!"
...
Not long after, a crowd of onlookers gathered at the entrance of the County Government.
Han Xuan was tied to a stone lion at the entrance of the County Government, and there were dozens of whip marks on his body, a terrible sight.
A burly constable rolled up his sleeves and stood to the side with a leather whip in his hand.
Han Xuan wailed incessantly and cried for help, but the surrounding people pointed at him and even threw stones and rotten vegetable leaves at him from time to time.
On the other side of the County Government entrance, a desk was set up, and Zhang Chen was sitting there at the moment.
Zhang Chen took a sip of tea, placed the teacup on the desk, and angrily denounced Han Xuan, saying, "You traitor, as a member of a noble family, you have enjoyed the Han Dynasty's salary for generations. You should have been disciplined and served the emperor loyally. Now, bearing the imperial mandate, you do not think of repaying the emperor's grace and caring for the people, but instead openly demand bribes from this county! Ask the people of this city, since this county took office, I have not harmed the people in any way, where would I get the extra money to bribe you!"
"Exactly, the County Magistrate cares for the people, you dog official, yesterday you even asked us to fabricate charges and falsely accuse the Lord, you really deserve to die!"
"Beat him to death! Beat him to death!"
Upon hearing this, the constable swung the whip twice with a "crack crack."
Han Xuan immediately let out another pig-like shriek.
"Lord Zhang... Lord Zhang, spare my life!"
Zhang Chen said calmly, "I originally did not want to cause trouble, but you are insatiably greedy and have repeatedly pressed me. You even fabricated charges and colluded with that Huang, attempting to harm me. Today, how can I tolerate you!"
"Lord, it's a misunderstanding, it's all a misunderstanding, it's... it's that Huang, it's that Bitch who maliciously slandered me, I... I was momentarily unaware and was deceived by her!"
Seeing that the time was right, Zhang Chen slightly tilted his head and gave Ju Shou, who was standing nearby, a look.
Giving him a lesson was enough; after all, he couldn't kill him on his own territory.
Ju Shou immediately understood and quickly stepped forward and said, "Lord, please calm down. If you continue to beat him, Lord Han's life may be in danger."
"Hmph! Fine! For the sake of the County Magistrate, I will spare your dog life today. I advise you to reflect on yourself. If you continue to be stubborn, next time, don't blame this official for being merciless!"
Zhang Chen snorted coldly and then said to those around him, "Untie Lord Han, send him to the medical hall to treat his injuries, and after he recovers, expel him from Guangping County!"
"Yes."
Two constables took the order, untied the ropes on Han Xuan's body, and supported him on either side, heading straight for the medical hall.
The matter came to an end, and the surrounding people also dispersed.
Ju Shou quietly stepped forward and asked, "Lord, how should we deal with that Huang?"
Zhang Chen said coldly, "This official was momentarily soft-hearted, but it planted the root of disaster. Give the order to confiscate all the Huang Family's land, release Huang, and expel their entire family, old and young, from the city!"
