"Lord Pang, this subordinate requests that Magistrate Liao sign and thumbprint this statement!"
Seeing Zhou Ding's smug expression, Han Mo said with a smile.
"Is that necessary?"
Pang Yue's mouth twitched.
"Of course, it's necessary. This is just word of mouth. What if Magistrate Liao denies it later?"
Han Mo's strange demeanor made Pang Yue's heart pound. Did this kid really have some solid evidence?
Or was it just that this kid felt confident because Zhong Yanchong was present to back him up?
"My Lord, the documents for Yuan City cannot be delayed any longer. May I ask if you could first..."
Seeing the large beads of sweat on Pang Yue's forehead, a trusted subordinate standing nearby suddenly spoke.
"Ah? Documents? Right, right, how could I forget this?"
After a moment of stunned silence, Pang Yue immediately reacted.
"My Lord, is something the matter?"
Zhong Yanchong asked Pang Yue meaningfully.
"It's nothing major, really. It's just an urgent dispatch from the Transport Commissioner's office that needs to be reported to the Transport Commissioner immediately!"
Pang Yue said hurriedly, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
"If there is an urgent dispatch, it should naturally be sent back immediately. However, if sending such a dispatch were to cause some kind of fire, then this matter would become unclear. Do you understand what I mean, my Lord?"
Zhong Yanchong sneered. How could he not understand that this old fellow was clearly trying to send a warning?
Although he didn't know who this old fellow was trying to inform, this kid was after all a magistrate in the Transport Commissioner's office.
If he forcefully stopped it from leaving, it would indeed be difficult to justify.
However, even if he showed courtesy, he would still admonish him again.
After all, at this moment, the simplest way to resolve a problem was to start a fire. As long as the warehouse or the account books were burned, everything would be beyond reproach.
"Circuit Intendant Zhong is joking..."
Seeing that Zhong Yanchong had finally relented, Pang Yue quickly wiped the sweat from his forehead and forced a smile that was uglier than crying.
"Since that is the case, then please quickly send someone. However, the interrogation cannot be delayed. Someone, have Magistrate Liao sign and thumbprint what was just recorded!"
Although Zhong Yanchong didn't understand what Han Mo was planning, this kid Han Mo was always resourceful. At this moment, he truly wanted to see how Han Mo would turn the situation around.
"Didn't you hear what my Lord said?"
Regardless, Zhong Yanchong had let him off the hook today, and Pang Yue's mood had finally stabilized considerably.
In return for this favor, he could only go along with Zhong Yanchong's words now.
Looking at the documents handed over by the clerk, Liao Wenxing's hands trembled.
But now, he was in a predicament. After casting a pleading look at Pang Yue, he tremblingly signed his name.
Pang Yue naturally understood what Liao Wenxing wanted him to do at this moment. However, under Zhong Yanchong's pressure, he really did not dare to show any attitude at this moment.
After Pang Yue's confidant left, Liao Wenxing finally felt a little relieved.
If he were finished, Pang Yue would also have to suffer. This old boy wouldn't dare to not even send a message, would he?
"Magistrate Han, you mentioned that Zhou Ding colluded with bandits. Besides these letters, do you have any other witnesses or evidence?"
Sending a message takes time. Pang Yue understood in his heart that it was time to regain control of the situation.
Whether it was for Liao Wenxing or for himself, he had to stall for time now.
Otherwise, if Zhong Yanchong went to the treasury of Tangyin County, Liao Wenxing's head would surely not be saved.
Although the imperial court favored civil officials and did not kill scholars.
However, after years of struggling in the officialdom, who understood the twists and turns better than himself?
Often, to make someone die, one did not need to act personally.
A few extra words or fewer words on a document were enough to push a living person to the brink of death.
He wasn't so naive as to believe that someone like Liao Wenxing could face death unflinchingly.
What if he were to say something he shouldn't, then it wouldn't just be one or two people who would be unlucky.
"Of course, there is evidence. However, before that, I have a few questions for Magistrate Liao and Deputy Magistrate Cui. I wonder if it would be convenient, my Lord?"
Han Mo smiled and said casually.
"Since this is a court trial, there is nothing inconvenient for this official. Ask whatever you wish to ask directly!"
Pang Yue gave Han Mo a deep look and then said directly.
"May I ask Magistrate Liao and Deputy Magistrate Cui, you said that Zhou Ding came to the county yamen to surrender himself and wanted to prove his innocence. Then, may I ask on what date and month did he go to surrender?"
"This..."
Hearing Han Mo's question, Liao Wenxing suddenly had a bad premonition.
"It seems, it seems it was on the eighth day of the sixth month..."
"Not 'it seems.' Please recall properly, sir, on which day was it!"
Han Mo smiled and said again.
"It was indeed the eighth day of the sixth month!"
After secretly calculating the time he had planned, Cui Hao said seriously again.
"Please record this, sir!"
Han Mo looked at Pang Yue again.
"Record it!"
Although Pang Yue didn't know what he was planning to do, what he needed now was to stall for time. Naturally, he wished that Han Mo would make a scene here for a while longer.
"Then may I ask, sir, on what day was the Tangyin County dungeon robbed before?"
"The nineteenth of the sixth month!"
After pondering for a moment, Liao Wenxing said.
After all, the matter of the dungeon being robbed caused too much commotion. Even he himself could not hide it.
And it was because of this matter that he was still issuing arrest warrants for Yue Fei and the others!
"Magistrate Han, do you have anything else to say?"
"This subordinate wishes for Magistrate Liao and Deputy Magistrate Cui to sign and thumbprint their statements from earlier!"
Han Mo said again.
"Bring it to the two magistrates to sign and thumbprint!"
With Zhong Yanchong present, even if Pang Yue wanted to favor them, he did not dare to make any moves at this moment. He could only put on a facade of business as usual.
Cui Hao and Liao Wenxing exchanged glances. Although they felt it was inappropriate, they could not find any reason to refuse. They could only take the statements again and sign and thumbprint them.
"Magistrate Han, what other evidence do you have to present now!"
After signing, Liao Wenxing said through gritted teeth.
"Someone, bring Li Mao'er up!"
"Li, Li Mao'er..."
Liao Wenxing's legs went weak, and he directly sat on the ground. What a huge pit!