"What's wrong with your father?" Li Fei asked disgustedly, snot on the clothes that Cao Xiaozhong had smeared.

"My father was framed by Zhang Fucheng and is now being locked in jail." Cao Xiaozhong said with a look of grief and anger.

"What the hell is going on?" Li Fei frowned, wonderingly, the Cao County Magistrate is not the third leader of Xunyang County. Like the Lin family, the Cao family is a powerful force in Xunyang County for dozens or hundreds of years. The energy in Xunyang County is greater than that of Zhang Fucheng, a new county magistrate who has just been here for a few years. Why is it so easy to be framed?

Following Cao Xiaozhong's account, Li Fei finally understood what was going on.

Cao County Wei is in Xunyang County and is mainly in charge of public security and urging taxes.

A month ago, someone suddenly came to the yamen to sue the county magistrate Cao and forced him to death when he urged him to collect taxes. He also used his power to fill his personal pockets and embezzle taxes.

The two items combined are serious crimes, at the least they are dismissed from office and exiled, or at the worst they are even beheaded. However, the man also brought out a lot of evidence. Although it could not fully prove the charge of County Magistrate Cao, it was enough to imprison him in prison.

"How do you know that your father must have been wronged, and that he was framed by County Magistrate Zhang?" Li Fei asked.

This kind of thing is usually complicated, and he will not get involved before he figures it out. Even if he has a good impression of Cao Xiaozhong, this is not the reason why he went to help him without hesitation.

"Although my father is in charge of the public security and tax levy in Xunyang County, our Cao family has been in Xunyang County for nearly a hundred years and has a large family business. How can my father take the risk of embezzling the little tax and silver? It is even more impossible to urge the tax to kill people." Cao Xiaozhong was very convinced.

"The court collects taxes every year, and there are always people who can't pay them for various reasons. When encountering people in real difficulties, my father will even temporarily lend them money to them and help them pay them back slowly next year. How can this force people to death?"

The taxes in the Tang Dynasty were collected according to the population, regardless of property or the amount of land. By the time of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, land annexation was already very serious. Some people had tens of millions of fertile land, while some had no land and had to rent other people's land. However, the taxes paid by the two were the same every year.

There are many poor people at the bottom. If you rent other people's land, you not only have to pay rent to the landlords every year, but you must not pay taxes to the court. Once the harvest is a little bad, it is normal that you cannot pay taxes.

If you want to force someone to die when urging taxes, as long as you don’t die in front of you, you will be scolded at most. The charge of embezzling taxes is not very serious. Once the charge is finally confirmed, you will be exiled if you don’t die.

Li Fei frowned. Even if County Magistrate Cao did not force anyone to death, he would not have enough pockets, how could he determine that it was framed by County Magistrate Zhang.

"Then how do you know that it was your father who was framed by County Magistrate Zhang?"

Speaking of this, Cao Xiaozhong gritted his teeth and looked angry. He must have suffered some humiliation.

"Since Zhang Fucheng curled up with Yang Guozhong, he has gradually stopped taking my father and County Magistrate Lin seriously. He used to want to suppress my father and County Magistrate Lin. With Yang Guozhong as his backer, he became more and more arrogant. The Lin family has some connections with Li Linfu, the prime minister of the dynasty. Zhang Fucheng would not dare to move for a while, so he first attacked my father!"

"It's hateful that dog not only framed my father, but also fell in love with our Cao family's industry, hinting that I could use the Cao family's industry to exchange for my father's life, but I didn't keep my promise after taking the Cao family's industry, which was extremely hateful!"

Cao Xiaozhong didn't know that Li Fei didn't know that the Lin family actually had some connection with the Prime Minister Li Linfu of the dynasty, but they didn't know what extent it was.

According to Cao Xiaozhong, it is quite possible that the magistrate Zhang County was framed by the magistrate Cao County. Even if he defeated the magistrate Cao County, it would not be surprising to attack Lin Siming. After all, he wanted to dominate Xunyang County, and the Cao family and Lin family, which were deeply rooted in Xunyang County, were stumbling blocks.

Although Cao Xiaozhong said that, Li Fei still wanted to see Cao County Wei again.

Cao Xiaozhong's eyes lit up. During these days, he had always wanted to go to prison to see how his father was doing. However, County Magistrate Zhang deliberately suppressed him, and he could not see him at all. Now, with Li Fei, the marquis, taking the lead, no one dared to stop him.

The imperial concubine recognized her adopted son, and the matter was too sensational. The peddlers and barons knew that Li Fei was originally a "celebrity" in Xunyang County. The prison guards did not dare to doubt Li Fei's identity, and they did not dare to stop Li Fei.

Li Fei and Cao Xiaozhong finally met Cao County Wei.

At this time, County Magistrate Cao was imprisoned for more than a month, covered in dirt, in a bad mood, and was very embarrassed.

Although he was not in good spirits, the first moment he saw Cao Xiaozhong, the county magistrate still jumped up angrily and pointed at Cao Xiaozhong and cursed: "You prodigal son, our Cao family has been in nearly a hundred years of industry, but you have just given it to someone! Come here, I will beat you a prodigal son to death-----"

County Magistrate Cao cursed, Cao Xiaozhong shrank his head and did not dare to approach him, looking at his father who was roaring in fear. Li Fei had no doubt at all. If County Magistrate Cao was not locked up, Cao Xiaozhong would have been beaten to death immediately.

After cursing for a while, his mouth became dry and his tongue slowly stopped.

"A prodigal son, Zhang Fucheng has no sufficient evidence to determine my crime. At most, he will lock me up. Even if he really treats me, you, as the heir of the Cao family, should protect the ancestral property, but you---. Even if you want to go out, my Cao family's big property can be rescued by anyone, but you actually gave it to Zhang Fucheng. Why do I have such a stupid son like you?" Cao County Magistrate's words were full of powerlessness.

As Cao County Magistrate said, the Cao family's property in the past century has been a considerable property, and anyone can see it. It is very likely to rescue Cao County Magistrate, Genius, or other officials and nobles. However, giving it to Zhang Fucheng is definitely like a meat bun to beat a dog. It is impossible to eat it all and turn your back on you.

"Dad, I know I'm wrong. Zhang Fucheng's dog is not keeping his word. Don't worry, I brought Li Fei and he will definitely save you." After being cheated by Zhang Fucheng, Cao Xiaozhong also knew that he was stupid and shook his head and apologized.

"Li Fei?" County Magistrate Cao finally turned his gaze to Li Fei.

"Cao County Magistrate." Li Fei smiled and bowed to Cao County Magistrate. Looking at Cao County Magistrate's temper just now, he was sure that 90% of Cao County Magistrate's lieutenant were framed.

"Dad, Li Fei is now the adopted son recognized by the Imperial Concubine, and has also been granted the title of Marquis of Jingyang, much larger than Zhang Fucheng, and will definitely save you." Cao Xiaozhong put all his hopes on Li Fei.

"Yes, the adopted son of the imperial concubine, Marquis of Jingyang!" Cao County Magistrate sighed. Long before he was imprisoned, the news of Li Fei had spread throughout the Tang Dynasty. He had also heard of it: "It's really a hero who is a young man, so you can't accept it!"

No matter what means Li Fei used, he could achieve his current status and was indeed unacceptable. He was much better than him, a mere county lieutenant.

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Chapter completed!