CHAPTER 917: CHAPTER 919: BEATING THE DRUM TO APPEAL FOR JUSTICE

Yang Ming knew that he couldn’t delay even a moment; he urged his horse on faster.

The road to the county town was information he got casually from the horse seller when buying the horse today, and he didn’t expect it to come in handy so quickly.

Anding Village was indeed very remote. Heading to the county town, Yang Ming pushed his horse hard without stopping, and the newly bought horse seemed almost exhausted to death.

Finally, after a day and two nights, he arrived.

When Yang Ming reached the county town, it was exactly the morning of the third day. He hastily ate something at a random place and went to the gate of the county government office.

The only way to see the Magistrate was to drum for justice.

Yang Ming picked up the drumsticks and started banging on the drum loudly.

Fortunately, a government official came, and very soon, Yang Ming saw the magistrate of this county.

Yang Ming didn’t bother to use his Scholar title, since it was an out-of-county title and no one would recognize it here; he directly knelt on the ground, "Commoner Yang Ming, pays respect to the Magistrate."

"What grievance do you have? Speak quickly."

"Sir, I have come for the villagers of Anding Village."

Upon hearing the three words "Anding Village," the magistrate’s eyes showed surprise, "Is it the Anding Village with the contagious disease?"

Yang Ming raised his head and looked directly at the magistrate, speaking in a very firm tone, "Magistrate, the villagers of Anding Village are not suffering from a contagious disease, but have been poisoned."

Hearing this, the magistrate’s eyes widened in shock. How did this person know so much detail when the government officials he dispatched haven’t even returned, "Why do you say this?"

Yang Ming also felt a chill in his heart, not knowing if this magistrate was an honest one or if he would turn against him, assuming he carried a contagious disease. But given the circumstances, he could only proceed, "Magistrate, the matter is like this: there is a person, whom everyone calls Master Bai, who was unsatisfied with the villagers’ refusal to sell their lands. Seeking revenge, he bribed the villagers of Anding Village with silver to poison them, causing them to fall ill one by one with mysterious illnesses. This news spread outside and reached the government office, leading to the misunderstanding that the people of Anding Village had caught a mysterious disease. Perhaps, the government would decide to slaughter the village, allowing Master Bai to both punish the villagers and easily acquire the lands of Anding Village."

Upon hearing Yang Ming’s account, the magistrate was very surprised, "How did you come to know this?"

"Magistrate, to be honest, I am a foreigner passing through the village, staying overnight just the day before the government was about to arrive. The village had already discovered the mysterious illness was caused by poisoning, and it was confirmed that those who hadn’t come in contact with the poison did not get sick, thus proving the mysterious illness was caused by drugs, not a contagious disease."

The magistrate said nothing after hearing this, seemingly pondering something.

Seeing this, Yang Ming continued, "Currently, all those suffering from the mysterious illness have been sent to the Medicine King Valley. As for whether it’s a contagious disease, you can send someone to investigate at the Medicine King Valley to confirm."

The magistrate remained silent, making Yang Ming feel uneasy, wondering if he was facing yet another corrupt official who wouldn’t seek justice.

Moments later, the magistrate finally spoke, "The person who poisoned, did you uncover him?"

"Indeed."

"And the suggestion to send them to Medicine King Valley, was that yours too?"

"Indeed."

The magistrate again fell silent, seemingly lost in thought, before finally speaking, "Since you know that I have already sent officials to thoroughly investigate, why have you come? Are you afraid I will wrongfully accuse the villagers of Anding Village?"