Yunping County.

To the east, in the area full of nobleness, there is a noble house covering an area of ​​several acres, green tiles and pink walls, pavilions and pavilions.

There is a red-lacquered gate in front of the house. There are two stone lions with fangs and claws squatting at the door. There is another plaque with two golden-lacquered words "Zhouzhai".

At this time, the main door was not open, and a few green-clothed and small hats were sitting on long benches, yawning lazily, while the side door was open for people to enter and exit.

This is the home of the Zhou family, a large family in the county!

According to the rules of the Zhou Dynasty, only the Junwang House, or the fifth-rank Mingtang, is qualified to be called "官网"!

Although the Zhou family is a powerful man, it only has an impact on a county, so it is very suitable to call it "home".

Although the Zhou Dynasty was in decline and the etiquette and law system was corrupt, some rules were strictly followed, especially in county towns and county governments.

At this time, there were two people in the study holding chess and talking.

The two of them had an ancient face, three long beards floated down, wearing a scholar's turban, with a scholar's spirit, and a square and vigorous look. Their eyes were dark and warm, unfathomable. This was Zhou Tong'an, the contemporary head of the Zhou family.

Opposite him was a young man, as gentle as jade, holding a white sprig in his hand, and was dealing with it with concentration.

Soon, the young man felt a little sweat on his forehead, and a big dragon was killed. He couldn't help but say, "My father is very skilled in chess, but his son is ashamed of himself!"

This person is Zhou Tong'an's legitimate son. Zhou Binglin was quick-witted when he was young and could make poems in seven steps. He was known as a "child prodigy" and was very famous.

Seeing this, Zhou Tongan sighed slightly.

Although the patriarch of a large family has the power in hand, it is extremely difficult to be a good person. Although he helped his son promote some reputation and tried more, it seems that he still has only one layer of flesh.

Of course, this layer of flesh is enough in a safe world, but it is not possible now.

He asked again: "The festival is approaching, and the county officials and the gifts from each room can be prepared?"

"It's ready, and as my father's instructions, it's 50% thicker than usual!"

Zhou Binglin said respectfully: "In addition... the second uncle also sent a thousand taels of silver from the silver, and the escort from the martial artist Song himself!"

"good!"

Zhou Tong'an Heshou: "Your second uncle is an official in another place, and you can handle the upper and lower levels, and this is indispensable... He is the future hope of my Zhou family. It can protect the family business for another forty years. You must not neglect it..."

This is what Zhou Tongan’s second brother, Zhou Tongren.

This person was awarded the title of Juren early. Although he had not passed the imperial examination, he was also promoted to the position of an eighth-rank county magistrate.

The county magistrate is the deputy of the county magistrate. He is not in charge of the affairs at ordinary times, but the county magistrate also needs to give him some thin face. Then he goes up and is the seventh-rank county magistrate, a hundred miles away.

It's just not in Yunping County.

This is easy to understand. The Zhou family was already in great power. If there was another eighth-rank county magistrate or even a county magistrate, wouldn’t the entire Yunping County have the surname Zhou?

Dividing the long-term responsibilities is the instinct of the superior.

The Zhou system is now corrupt and is still in the same county, not too far away. If it were before, it would not even be in the same state.

"My son is awake!"

Zhou Binglin responded respectfully and immediately said: "Also, is the matter of the Wu family... suppression too much? Because of this, he was evil with the Taoist court, and it seemed that it was not worth the loss... and it also had a reputation..."

"snort!"

Zhou Tongan snorted coldly, immediately causing Zhou Binglin to tremble: "I'm afraid it's not just that? I know, you have always been interested in Wu Qing... I can't help but love the house and the mist..."

In this world, the etiquette and law system is strict, and the son cannot disobey his father at all, otherwise he will be despised by the world. When the disaster comes, Zhou Binglin suddenly sweats coldly and apologizes: "Son doesn't dare!"

"It's better if you really think so..."

Zhou Tongan An said: "Suppressing the Wu family is not only the only way for us to get a relationship with the county family, but not to mention... Wu Qing is not something you are qualified to enjoy. Do you understand?... I have long been attracted by the nobles!"

A beautiful figure appeared in Zhou Binglin's heart, and his heart was filled with pain, but he did not dare to express his feelings at this moment and said, "Son knows!"

No matter how you think in your heart, at least Zhou Tongan was very satisfied with this statement, and his face turned gentle: "I have already made arrangements for my father. As long as I take down Wu Ming's child, someone will immediately attack us in the Taoist temple... Take a two-pronged approach, then..."

In an instant, a burst of rapid footsteps interrupted Zhou Tongan's words.

He frowned, and Zhou Binglin suddenly felt very angry. He knew that this was his father's extreme anger, and he became even more humble and dared not make any noise.

"The head of the family, the villain has something important to report!"

"Come in!" Hearing the voice outside, Zhou Tonganqiang suppressed his anger. He knew that the servants at this time, knew his temperament, and did not have any urgent matters, so he did not dare to come and disturb him.

"You report to the head of the family!"

The person who came in was a middle-aged man wearing a black uniform and a gloomy face. He bowed to Zhou Tongan: "Deacon Yu and Guests of Qingping have not been in contact for a day and a night. According to the news, a demon found in Qingshi Village, claiming to be Qingping, manipulating the body and practicing evil methods. He has been beaten to death, soaked in the mortal pit, and his body turned into ashes!"

"What?"

This shocking news suddenly made Zhou Tongan lose his voice and swept the black and white pieces on the chessboard.

"Master Qingping..."

Zhou Binglin was also a little dazed. He once remembered the elegant scene of the man who was so proud of his bamboo crown and feathered clothes, even his father respected him very much, but he died like this?

Even, is the ending so miserable?

"…How did Taoist Qingping die? Can the case be reversed?"

After Zhou Tongan took a heavy breath, he still asked coldly.

"The Taoist Qingping had already made arrangements to capture the Wu family. It should be a fight and was killed! As for overturning the case..."

The man in black said: "There are joint evidence from the villagers of Lizheng as a witness, and there are also copper and iron corpses that have been trained. How many of them are stolen in the county and have a criminal record... When real people have evidence and physical evidence, it is as hard as a mountain of iron evidence!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Tongan's face turned darker: "Where is Deacon Yu? Where are others?"

"Deacon Yu is missing, and he is suspected to have fallen into the hands of the Wu family!"

The man in black gritted his teeth and said it, and then he saw that Zhou Tongan was no longer furious, but turned into gloomy instead.

After a long time, Zhou Tongan sneered: "Okay! OK! OK! I didn't expect that there were experts in the Wu family!"

He immediately ordered: "If you go down, you will take back all the treatment you gave to Taoist Qingping, and... to create evidence that Yu Cheng was a corrupt master's wealth and was driven out of the wall early. Do you understand?"

Zhou Binglin listened in a daze, looking at the man in black who was bowing and leaving, but his heart felt a little chilled.

Once something happens, it is normal to separate the relationship.

After all, the Wu family is also a big family in the county, so some ways to deal with common people cannot be used. Once they go to court, they will be a little passive. It is normal for people to abandon the car to protect the coach.

But knowing that it is one thing, but doing it is another.

Although Yu Cheng and Qingping's descendants could still secretly take care of themselves if they knew the truth, wouldn't they be cold when they left? The consequences would probably not be much better.

It is terrifying to act like this!

...

At the same time, inside Wujiawu Fort.

Wu Ming was wearing a fox fur and a silver crown on his head. He was as rich as jade. He was lit incense burner in the house, and the clear air was as bright as a fairyland.

The Zhou Dynasty rules, men's fifteen elements of crowns and nobles, officials above the third rank used jade crowns for households, county or fifth rank of households for households, silver for gentry, and civilians for civilians.

At this time, I heard Feng Han say: "The Zhou family lives in Yunping for many years, which can be traced back to 270 years. Zhou Yong followed the general Wu Qi to quell the rebellion in Shu. He won the fiefdom for half his life. The Zhou family has risen, and several generations have produced juren, taking advantage of the situation to prosper. So far, there are more than 5,400 acres of land, with more than 1,000 clan members, and there are many servants. The one with the highest official position is Zhou Tongren, the younger brother of the head of the family Zhou Tong'an, who is the magistrate of Qingmu County. In Yunping County, the one with the closest relationship with the Zhou family is Hu Zhuan. This person can become the county chief clerk, and the Zhou family has made great efforts, so he respects it with kindness... In addition, the Zhou family also sent servants to secretly support several families in business and make a lot of profits..."

Wu Ming nodded from time to time, and Feng Han was very attentive.

In a short period of time, the Zhou family's general strength was explored, making Wu Ming seem to see a giant who was rooted in Yunping and spreading its power to several counties.

"And... there is a master's stern, which is a bit difficult!"

A cold light flashed in Wu Ming's eyes.

In the Dazhou county system, there is one county magistrate, the seventh rank, who holds great power. There are also eighth rank county magistrates, each with one county magistrate. The county magistrate doesn't care about everything, but the county magistrate can be in charge of the wing soldiers.

Under this core, there are officials, households, criminals, and labourers, such as the six small ministries, and each of the gongcai is the ninth rank.

In addition, there is a 9th-rank inspector who is responsible for the affairs of thieves and the chief clerk, who is responsible for the documents of each room, communicate with each other, and organize the confidentiality. The location is very important.

However, the chief clerk has an extremely powerful weight, almost like a prime minister. No matter how high the rank is, he can even put the county magistrate in vain, so he can only be from the ninth rank.

In addition to these officials, there are officials from various rooms, warehouse officials, fast-track chiefs, inspection teams, and inspections in various townships, as well as more hiring people who cannot even get a member of the official.

Just one county government office is a small sparrow, with all the internal organs, and a small center.

At this time, Wu Ming compared it. The Wu family and the Zhou family were both large families in the county. On the surface, they treated everyone equally and dealt with the common people, which was enough to destroy their families, so they could not be used.

However, compared to the relationship, the Wu family is more than a little worse.

Although gifts from all seasons, such as Bing Jing Tan Jing, are indispensable, but this is the case. Compared to the Zhou family, who supports the chief clerk, it is a bit shallow.

At least, Wu Ming is sure that if he really wants to go to court, the county magistrate may be able to treat everyone equally, but the masters and subordinates may be inclined to the Zhou family.

At that time, even if you have the ironclad evidence, there will be some suspense.

"Not to mention... in the worst case, the Zhou family may be able to borrow the relationship between the county and the county magistrate can suppress it... It's simply defeat but not win!"

Therefore, Wu Ming had no intention of solving this matter on the public.
Chapter completed!