CHAPTER 317: CHAPTER 311: REPLACING COUNTY MAGISTRATE HU

Zhao Hanzhang withdrew her gaze from the low table, looking down at County Magistrate Hu, who was limp on the wooden couch, and asked with little expression: "County Magistrate Hu, do you know Fang Lisheng from Xintian Village?"

County Magistrate Hu nodded: "I know him, does Zhao County Governor also know him? He brews excellent wine."

"Yes, it’s quite exquisite. I’ve heard he’s been brewing wine for you continually. How much do you pay per jar of wine, County Magistrate Hu?"

County Magistrate Hu drank a lot for the sake of using medicine, and at this moment, he was floating and euphoric, both exhilarated and muddle-headed, and sneered, "To be able to brew fine wine for me is his honor; why speak of payment for the wine?"

Zhao Hanzhang placed her hand on the hilt of her sword, stroking the patterns, and asked without a change in expression: "It is exactly the time to go on duty, does County Magistrate Hu often come out at this time to drink... and take medicine?"

County Magistrate Hu chuckled stupidly: "There’s nothing in the county, why not enjoy some leisure and freedom?"

He reached out his hand to grab Zhao Hanzhang, "Zhao County Governor, I still have another dose of powder here, how about I give it to you?"

Zhao Hanzhang dodged to the side, and behind her, Fu Tinghan’s face changed, unable to hold back, he stepped forward to knock away his hand.

County Magistrate Hu felt the pain and looked displeased at Fu Tinghan, "Mr. Fu has quite a temper, just relying on a lady’s favor, huh, a man bowing down to a woman..."

Zhao Hanzhang’s face darkened, she unsheathed the long sword in her hand, instantly placing it against County Magistrate Hu’s throat. Even though he was under the influence, County Magistrate Hu sensed Zhao Hanzhang’s murderous intent and was stunned.

Zhao Hanzhang said, "I originally didn’t want to kill you; I had thought about how to deal with you on the way here. A person like you, who abuses power for personal gain and exploits the people, cannot remain in my Ru Nan County, so I wanted to expel you."

"Only after seeing you did I realize I still thought too well of you," Zhao Hanzhang’s eyes flashed with coldness, the sword tip moved forward, "Coming out to revel in wine and drugs during duty hours, utterly unrepentant for your wrongdoings. Most concerning, under your rule, the people are starving and dying by the thousands, yet here you claim there’s nothing in the county..."

"How can I keep someone like you?"

Zhao Hanzhang withdrew her sword, turned her head slightly to Qiu Wu, and said, "Take him to the market and execute him immediately. The charges are dereliction of duty, lack of compassion for the people, and consumption of Five Stone Powder!"

"Yes!" Qiu Wu brought two soldiers forward, ready to drag County Magistrate Hu away.

The two people nearby were frightened, hastily reaching out to grab County Magistrate Hu’s clothes, almost tearing them off, "No, no."

They hadn’t drunk as much, so although they were a bit dizzy, with a fiery sensation rising within them, they were still rational. They quickly said to Zhao Hanzhang, "He’s drunk, he doesn’t even know what he’s saying himself, please spare his life, Zhao County Governor."

Seeing Zhao Hanzhang unmoved, and Qiu Wu had already pried away their hands, having the soldiers drag County Magistrate Hu away, they hurriedly chased a couple of steps, then turned around and shouted angrily at Zhao Hanzhang, "Third Sister Zhao, he is a scholar, a county magistrate, how can you decide to kill him just like that?"

"Scholar?" Zhao Hanzhang’s gaze grew colder, she pursed her lips and said, "What kind of scholar boasts about exploiting the people, what kind of scholar watches the people suffer and die without doing anything? If that’s what makes a scholar, then I’ll kill all such scholars in the world!"

After saying this, Zhao Hanzhang directly slashed the corner of the table with her sword, then pointed the sword at them and said, "No matter who you are, from this day forward, the consumption of Five Stone Powder is prohibited; if you do not comply, get out of my Ru Nan County!"

Zhao Hanzhang said in a deep voice, "Summon the enforcers, announce the decree that from this day forward, the consumption of Five Stone Powder is banned in Ru Nan County; violators will be penalized!"

The soldiers responded in unison with a loud "Yes," the sound was deafening, causing a ringing in the ears of the two, their vision blurred, and when they snapped out of it, Zhao Hanzhang had already turned and left with Fu Tinghan, and County Magistrate Hu had been dragged out long ago.

The two of them shuddered, suddenly realizing something, and dashed outside, could it be that County Magistrate Hu would really be executed?

He must not die!

The two, not having time to put on shoes, or even fasten their clothing, ran outside barefoot in disarray.

The people outside were startled, but quickly calmed down, such occurrences were not unusual; it seemed these noble officials were using the immortal formula again.

They stumbled and chased after the soldiers, but couldn’t even see their backs, and along the way, because of their drunkenness, they fell. Giving up on running, they grabbed a servant who ran out after them and said, "Hurry to the county government to save him, quickly go to the market to save County Magistrate Hu..."

But it was too late, Zhao Hanzhang didn’t go to watch the execution; she didn’t like watching such things. Why bother watching a killing?

Apart from the battlefield, this was the second person she had put to death, but she wasn’t feeling particularly well, so she remained silent the entire time and headed straight for the county government.

The government official who had guided Zhao Hanzhang, considering his task complete, leaned against the door to doze. Hearing footsteps, the two impatiently opened their eyes and were startled to see Zhao Hanzhang approaching—they hadn’t found County Magistrate Hu?

Zhao Hanzhang had already passed by them, heading straight into the county government.

The officials snapped to attention, hurriedly calling out "hey" repeatedly, following behind, "Excellency, Excellency, this is the county government, you can’t just wander in; we told you, our County Lord is not in..."

Zhao Hanzhang turned her head and asked: "If the County Lord’s not here, where is your County Magistrate?"

Zhao Hanzhang smiled slightly, "What, has your County Magistrate also gone to drink and indulge?"

"Who are you, what business do you have with me?"

Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan turned their heads upon hearing this, seeing a middle-aged man frowning at them, looking somewhat displeased.

Zhao Hanzhang immediately revealed her identity, "I am Zhao Hanzhang, the County Governor of Ru Nan County."

The middle-aged man was slightly surprised, but the surprise was fleeting. He promptly came forward to salute, "Subordinate Liang Hong, County Magistrate of Biyang County, pays respects to the County Governor."

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, turning to continue towards the main hall, this time no one stopped her, and Liang Hong and the officials immediately followed.

Zhao Hanzhang took a seat at the head, and Liang Hong quietly instructed the officials, "Quickly, go and call back the County Lord."

"There’s no need..."

"Something terrible has happened—"

Zhao Hanzhang swallowed back the rest of her sentence, lifting her eyes to the messenger who rushed in, panic-stricken.

The messenger who rushed in did not see Zhao Hanzhang sitting above; his eyes were only on Liang Hong. He was panting and pointed outside the county government, shouting loudly: "County Magistrate, County Magistrate, our County Lord is being taken to the market for execution..."

Liang Hong’s pupils shrank, turning his head stiffly to look at Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang nodded to him, with a solemn expression said, "Indeed, it was my command."

Only then did the messenger see Zhao Hanzhang, jumping in shock, hiding behind Liang Hong, not daring to speak.

Liang Hong’s lips trembled, his mind filled with many questions, wanting to ask but too afraid, stunned for a long time, he couldn’t hold back from asking in a trembling voice, "I do not know why did the County Governor have our County Lord executed?"