Chapter 581: Chapter 581, Strict Punishment Without Leniency (2 more)
He was indeed very cautious.
Xie Zhinuan felt that such a person actually had some ability, just no opportunity to climb up.
If there were an opportunity…
“Magistrate Meng, what do you plan to do with these bandits?” Xie Zhinuan asked.
Town Chief Meng was also very hesitant, “Not to hide from Miss Xie, I had known earlier that they might be bandits, but without evidence, I dare not go to verify. First, they are numerous, and each one knows martial arts. The few officers in the Governor’s Office might manage to handle petty thieves, but they don’t dare to confront bandits head-on. In terms of martial arts or weapons, we are far inferior!”
“Secondly…” Magistrate Meng said, glancing at Xie Zhinuan, “Miss Xie comes from Gaocheng County, so you probably have heard something. I’m insignificant and my words carry little weight…”
He stopped right there.
Dare not say more.
Even more so, he didn’t dare to outright say that the county magistrate Sun simply wasn’t a good person, and he wouldn’t care about the lives or deaths of the common people.
That’s why there were many bandits in Gaocheng County and life wasn’t easy for the commoners.
“…”
Xie Zhinuan fell silent.
Magistrate Meng continued, “As for those bandits, I truly do not know how to deal with them. I have neither the authority to execute nor behead them; to offer amnesty or persuasion, I don’t dare either, fearing that there might be those who slip through the net and bring disaster upon us all!”
As Magistrate Meng spoke, he knelt down, “It took me many years of imperial examinations to achieve the rank of Xiucai, and after leveraging countless connections, I obtained this position as Town Chief. In this small town, I may count as an official, but only to the town’s commoners. Once I go to the county seat, even to the gatekeeper officers, I must bow and scrape!”
His eyes had already reddened, “I dare not manage, and neither am I able to manage!”
“…”
Xie Zhinuan had never imagined a Town Chief could fear bandits like this, and that there were many, many people with the same mindset as Magistrate Meng.
“You should stand up!” said Xie Zhinuan softly.
In her heart, she was also contemplating how to deal with these bandits.
She wasn’t an official of the Imperial Court and had no authority to punish them.
But to ignore them completely would be too irresponsible. Once she left, there would be even more commoners who suffered as a result.
“…”
Seeing Xie Zhinuan silent, Magistrate Meng didn’t dare to say more.
After a long contemplation, Xie Zhinuan said, “Magistrate Meng!”
“I am here!”
“Tonight, you did not come here, nor did you know that this inn was originally a den of bandits. This was all a misunderstanding. Now, you should take your men and go back!”
Magistrate Meng looked at Xie Zhinuan with surprise and shock.
For a moment, he was disappointed.
He pursed his lips, but in the end, he couldn’t say anything and just acknowledged her words before leading his men away from the inn.
Chunyu brought over some tea and, not seeing Magistrate Meng, seemed rather surprised.
Xie Zhinuan stood up and walked under the eaves, staring into the pitch-black night sky.
The few stars in the sky seemed to have dimmed a great deal.
“Miss!” Chunyu handed her a cup of hot tea.
Xie Zhinuan reached out to take it and gently sipped.
This year’s new tea was much more fragrant than last year’s.
She couldn’t help but think of Li Hengyi. If he were here, how would he deal with these bandits?
Would he punish them severely or offer amnesty?
If they were not punished severely, then the cost of being a bandit was simply too low.
Xie Zhinuan turned to the guard, “If His Highness were here, what would he do?”
“…”
The guard was silent for a moment before saying, “He would punish them without mercy!”
“To err is to face punishment, no matter who it is. These bandits opened an inn in this small town, yet engaged in murder and plunder. They must have blood on their hands, and it’s unknown how many they’ve harmed!”
Xie Zhinuan nodded.
Made sense.
“Then let’s expose them and let the whole town know!”