Chapter 593 - 593: Burn and Put an End to It
He made a few turns in the alley and arrived at a large green brick courtyard. He said to the door, “Is Magistrate Wang at home?”
The doorman nodded and said, “Yes, Master hasn’t gone to the government office yet.”
The warehouse manager ran straight in and saw Wang Ping sitting at the dining table eating.
Wang Ping also looked at him and frowned. “What happened? You look like you’ve lost your soul.”
The warehouse manager panted and patted his chest in shock. “Master, Wang Chun and I woke up this morning and found a masked corpse at the entrance. There was also a sharp knife on the ground. What do you think we should do? Should we report it to the government office?”
“Was the masked man going to attack Wang Chun and the others? Or were they going to burn down the warehouse? It seemed that they had never thought of returning the food to me. What should I do? This newly appointed county magistrate was not as easy to control as County Magistrate Liu.
They could no longer get the food back. It was good to burn it. It would put an end to everything.
Seeing that Wang Ping had fallen into deep thought, the warehouse manager was a little anxious and urged, “Master, what do you think we should do?
There’s a big dead person there.”
Wang Ping looked up at him. “Don’t report it. Sit down. I have something to ask you.”
The warehouse manager glanced at him and sat down diagonally on a chair.
Wang Ping pulled a chair and sat opposite him. He looked at him and said, “Wang He, how much of the food did you and Wang Chun sell?”
Wang He’s eyes flickered. “Master, we wouldn’t dare. We always did as you instructed.”
Wang Ping looked at him and shook his head. “Wang He, you’re dishonest. I know everything you and Wang Chun did. In the past, on account that we’re from the same clan, I didn’t pursue the matter. I Imow everything you did. Do you want me to bring you to the West Street grain shop to confront you?”
Wang He knelt on the ground with a bang. “Master, we only did it a few times and got some money to spend!”
Wang Ping stood up and looked down at Wang He. “Let me tell you, the new county magistrate is not like County Magistrate Liu. He has already begun to check the accounts. I think he’s about to find out what’s going on in the warehouse. You know better than me. Let me tell you, you’ll be beheaded for raiding the warehouse!”
Wang He’s heart seemed to have fallen into a pot of oil. He cursed in his heart, “Damn it, we’re brothers of the same race, yet we still call you Master. You sold
99% of those grains! If we have to kill someone, you’ll be the first to do it.”
Wang He looked up at Wang Ping and said ambiguously, “Master, what do you think we should do? Give us a suggestion! We’ll definitely do it.”
Wang Ping said softly, “It seems that the man in black was here to burn down the warehouse. Go back and burn it down. Make that man in black look like he stole food. When you found out, you accidentally killed him and accidentally lost control.”
Wang He’s eyes lit up. “That’s a good idea. When the food has been burned up, let’s see how he investigates!”
Wang Ping nodded. “Hurry up and go back. You have to do it cleanly.” “Aye! I’ll go back and do it now.” Wang He got up and ran out.
Hu Zhong saw Wang He come out of the house and followed him back to the warehouse. After seeing him run in, he closed the door.
Wang He told Wang Ping’s words to Wang Chun. Both of them felt that this was a good idea. They boldly dragged the man in black to the side of the warehouse and went back to get an oil lamp to start a fire.
From the tree, Hu Zhong saw the two of them dragging the man in black to the side of the warehouse. They were still at the door. He turned around and went back into the warehouse with the oil lamp. “It looks like this dog still wants to set the fire.”
Hu Zhong came down from the tree and flipped into the warehouse. The two of them had already lit the fire. Hu Zhong was so angry that he pushed the two of them onto the freshly lit sorghum rice and shouted, “Put out the fire, or I’ll turn you into roasted pigs.”
Wang He and the other man fell on the sorghum that had just been lit. They hurriedly extinguished the fire under them and looked at Hu Zhong in fear. “Who are you? Why are you here?”
“You’ll know who I am later.” Hu Zhong twisted the two of them and tied them up with twine.
Mr. Cheng waited until dawn, but he did not see the expected fire. Even the person he had sent to burn the warehouse did not return. He felt that something was wrong and hurriedly went out to Wen Chang Pavilion outside the city.
Advisor Liu also went to the county office to look for Li Qing. His eyes were red as he said, “Lord Li, I’m busy sending my master back to his hometown to see a doctor. Please sign the handover document on account of us being colleagues.”
Li Qing glanced at Advisor Liu and took out something similar to a contract and a stack of accounts that he had written with Advisor Lin and Ah Lei overnight.
He placed it in front of him and said indifferently, “Advisor Liu, take a look. This is the account I found yesterday. It’s not that I’m unreasonable, but this matter is too important. Take it back and let Lord Liu take a look. If you agree, sign and stamp here. We’ll have proof in the future!”
Advisor Liu looked at the accounts and contracts Li Qing handed him and flipped open the written accounts. He even saw a few accounts he had handled. They were actually recorded exactly.
He looked at Li Qing in surprise and thought to himself that it was no wonder Lord Li was chosen to be a Third Honors Scholar. His memory was actually so good.
Looking at the contract again, the general idea was: After checking the accounts of Le County’s county office, they found that there were major discrepancies. According to the usual practice, Lord Li should not do the handover with County Magistrate Liu. Moreover, the account book was accidentally destroyed. However, County Magistrate Liu was seriously ill. Lord Li made an exception and did the handover with Lord Liu based on the concept of putting people first.
Before the handover, both sides settled the current affairs and wealth of the county office. Lord Li was only responsible for the affairs and wealth of the county office after he took over.
After reading it, Advisor Liu muttered, “I’ve never heard of signing a contract before settling the handover procedures! Lord Li is too cunning! This way, what’s the difference between my master leaving or not?”
“Lord Li, aren’t you making things difficult for my master?”
Li Qing raised his eyebrows and looked at him. “Advisor Liu, you know very well how the accounts of Le County are. I don’t think this is making things difficult for County Magistrate Liu. If you don’t even agree to this, I can only report it to the Imperial Court.”
Private Advisor Liu looked at Li Qing with a livid expression. “Lord Li, it won’t do you good to report it to the Imperial Court. If you can spare someone, spare them. You’re my master’s colleague. Why are you so aggressive?”
“Am I being aggressive?” Li sneered and placed the water bag that Liang Cheng had brought back on the table. “You probably don’t know yet! Someone went to the warehouse last night and prepared to burn it down. Don’t tell me you don’t know how much food is stored in it!”
“I’m very curious.. Who gave you the guts to sell the food in the warehouse? What incredible secret is Le County hiding that made Lord Liu not hesitate to harm his body to seek a way out? But can you really escape unscathed?”