Chapter 260: Cleaning up After the Event

How to explain to the imperial envoy? This is what worries the prefect. The last theft issue had been going on for so long, and it was finally settled, but now that the fire is burning, all the previous efforts have been wasted.

explain? How to explain? He was afraid that before he finished speaking, he would be tied up and taken to the execution ground to be beheaded.

The magistrate's eyes were dark and he sighed deeply. The little strength he had just raised dissipated in an instant. He waved his hands bitterly and said, "Let's do the things at hand first. The imperial envoy will have to explain things clearly sooner or later. If it doesn't work, let's go together."

"This fire cannot be controlled by humans. But people's hearts can be controlled..."

Seeing this, Qi Tongzhi had no choice but to keep silent. This fire came at the wrong time.

The carriage was running at top speed, with the sound of horse hooves trampling and the squeaking axle friction. The two people in the car racked their brains to think of countermeasures. Unknowingly, the fire could be seen through the curtain.

The coachman opened the curtain and said respectfully: "Master, we have arrived at the official warehouse."

The two of them came back to their senses, glanced at each other, and nodded helplessly. After adjusting his clothes, he helped the driver get out of the carriage.

As soon as their feet touched the ground, the bitter expressions on their faces became extremely serious. Qi Tongzhi yelled hurriedly before he could stand firmly.

"There, there's still a spark there, put it out!"

"At the door, pay attention to the beams on the door. They are about to be burned. Be careful."

"Bring me two barrels, hurry up."

The two rolled up their sleeves, took the barrels handed by their subordinates, and eagerly joined in the fight to put out the fire.

This behavior shocked these government officials and guards. Why do these great men who usually have to take a carriage every step of the way do it themselves today?

Too full to eat, or just exercising out of boredom?

Ke Zhifu and Qi Tongzhi ignored the doubtful looks of these people and asked breathlessly while pouring water to put out the fire: "Did you see who set the fire? Did you see that person's face? Did you write down any characteristics? ?”

The others looked at each other, who set the fire? Wasn't it a fire?

But before they could react, Qi Tongzhi said: "Sir, I have already dispatched troops. We must catch the person who set the fire. These gangsters are really audacious and their crimes are unpardonable!"

As soon as these words came out, even the people who put out the fire were stunned. This...how can we mobilize troops for this fire? Seeing that the fire was almost put out, they felt their hearts skip a beat.

At this time, the government servant who went to mobilize soldiers and horses hurried back and returned the token to the prefect. Then he said calmly: "Sir, Lord Tongpan has asked the army to block the city gate. The villains who set fire tonight will definitely not be able to escape from Chuzhou City!"

"Okay!" The prefect dropped the barrel and patted the yamen servant on the shoulder with his stained hands.

He praised: "You did a good job, where are you from?"

An uncontrollable joy appeared on the Yamen servant's face, and he hurriedly replied: "Sir, I am from Chuzhou."

The magistrate nodded with his hands behind his back, "Okay, then just work with me from now on."

Everyone couldn't understand. Just by notifying the magistrate to mobilize the army, could he sneak into the prefect's side? Is there such a simple thing in this world?

They don't understand. But looking at my colleagues who have risen through the ranks, I feel a little bit envious.

While there was silence, the last fire was extinguished. The entire back warehouse of the official warehouse was dark, the roof was in tatters, and one of the four walls collapsed. Everyone's face was more or less pitch black, and the first batch of people who went in to put out the fire had a lot of their hair burned off.

The general magistrate came late, took a look at everyone, and ran to the prefect impatiently, lowering his voice and asking: "Sir, the city gate has been sealed, and the river has also been sealed. What should we do next? Do we need to search from house to house? ?”

Door to door? Do you think the matter is not big enough and you want people who don’t know about it to come and watch the show?

The magistrate's face darkened, and he pulled the tongzhi and tongpan aside with his left and right hands, one on each side. He sighed and said slowly: "Bring all these government officials and guards back to the government office, and ask them for a few days. Remember not to torture! If someone dies, I will chop your head off!"

"Understood." The other two said in unison.

He waved his hand and continued: "The official warehouse is surrounded and no one is allowed to enter. It will be guarded by soldiers for the past few days. Remember! No one is allowed to enter, including you!"

Pointing at the uninformed judge, the prefect looked downcast, turned to his fellow prefects and said, "Old Qi, I'm going to trouble you about the next thing. I'll issue a wanted notice before dawn, and the people who set the fire will be tentatively identified as seven. ”

"Okay." Qi Tongzhi lowered his head and agreed.

"And..." The prefect seemed to have remembered something. He frowned and hesitated. Finally, he sighed and said softly: "Let's seal the city. There should be more patrols on the streets and we should pay more attention to every movement in the city!"

The judge's eyes were solemn. On the way here, he had thought that the situation was serious, but he didn't expect it to be this serious. The city is closed, people are arrested, wanted, and news is blocked. The prefect is trying to kill someone in the official warehouse and set it on fire.

The magistrate patted them on the shoulders and said, "Let's get to work. I'm going to Bianzhou. I'll ask you to take charge of the overall situation while I'm away for the next few days."

Hearing this, Qi Tongzhi and Tongpan looked at each other and nodded at the same time. As soon as his feet made a move, he was caught by the prefect.

Putting the two people together, he whispered: "The last time I went to Bianzhou to see the imperial envoy, the imperial envoy said: before leaving the capital, the emperor specifically told you not to disturb the people and that the people's hearts must be stabilized."

"So, don't arrest people if you can, don't torture them if you can, and release them as soon as possible if you can, and don't make it too difficult! If the public sentiment is disturbed, you and I will have our heads dropped!"

Seeing the extremely serious expression on the prefect's face, the two of them nodded cautiously and agreed together.

After finally seeing the prefect's expression, the two of them understood that the matter was serious.

"What about you?" Magistrate Qi asked.

But the magistrate didn't reply to him. He just waved to the government servant just now and ordered: "Prepare the carriage. You go and notify the ferry to prepare the boat. We need it now. Hurry up!"

The yamen servant responded and went out. At this time, the magistrate smiled bitterly and said: "Me, I have to go to Bianzhou..."

The three of them looked at each other and left separately. The judge waved his hand and called the school captain, pointing to the yamen servants and guards, "Take them all to the yamen, I want to question them personally. The rest of the people are guarding here and no one is allowed in. Remember, it's anyone!" "

Seeing the panic on the faces of the yamen guards, the judge explained: "Don't be nervous, everyone. I just went to the yamen to ask a few questions about someone setting fire to the official warehouse tonight."

"So, you have to think clearly and don't make things unclear!"