Chapter 23: The Prefect is Troubled

As the Zhao family's entourage set out, especially with a string of the Prefect Zhuang's tenants tied up behind them, it caused a sensation in the countryside. They never expected the usually low-key Zhao family to suddenly pull off such a 'big' move. A village head in the countryside was like a god, and now he was being dragged behind a horse like a dog. The quick-witted ones ran back to inform their masters, the timid ones started thinking about whether they should return the land they had seized, but there were also those who dismissed it, thinking that anyone who dared to capture the prefect was asking for death.

The entire entourage seemed to be deliberately showing off, strutting down the road. Zhao Cheng's sedan chair was very spacious; even four or five children could sit in it without feeling cramped. A brazier was placed at his feet, and the curtains were drawn, so not a breath of cold air could get in. He sat in the swaying sedan chair, half-asleep, and eventually lay down to nap.

After Cai Jing became prime minister, to consolidate his position and control the military, he established the four auxiliary prefectures of Chan, Zheng, Cao, and Gong, each with 20,000 troops. He appointed his relatives and close associates as governors, controlling the key areas around the capital. After a brief dismissal, he was reappointed and sent his trusted confidant Chen Tang to govern Gong Prefecture.

The distance to the prefectural city was neither far nor near. After nearly an hour, the entourage entered the city gate. The guards, seeing the imposing presence, knew they were dealing with someone wealthy or powerful and did not dare to stop them. The entourage headed straight for the prefectural government office. The prefectural government office was the most prosperous place in the prefecture, and with the garrison, the city had a population of 100,000, making it a large city. Shops lined both sides of the street, and vendors and laborers came and went, their cries never ceasing.

The Song Dynasty's management of officials was quite humane. Except for specific days, officials did not have to sit in court every day. If there were no major issues, they could work in the back hall. Today was a rest day, and the government office was not even open. The group of plaintiffs arrived at the gate, and someone rushed forward to submit the complaint.

A junior steward from the Zhao family's household stepped forward and pounded on the door. As the saying goes, "If a cart driver, a shopkeeper, or a government official is not guilty, they should still be punished." The guards, who earned little, usually lived off bribes and extortion. The guard opened the door a crack and asked impatiently, "What do you want? Do you knock on the government office door like this?"

"We want to file a complaint!" The junior steward was also 'unscrupulous.' He should have reported it, but he didn't. He spoke even more harshly, not even offering a smile or a few coins.

"Get lost, come back tomorrow!" The guard was even more aggressive, slamming the door shut. No matter how much the junior steward knocked, the guard ignored him.

Zhao Cheng was still waiting with the curtain of his sedan chair drawn, but the door didn't even open, leaving the group stranded on the street. Zhang Yan, seeing they had reached the prefectural government office, grew bolder and started shouting. Meng Tao slapped him, dislocating his jaw. Jian Xi wanted to knock on the door but was afraid of losing face, so he was hopping mad. Zhao Cheng nodded at Pan Long, signaling him to knock on the door.

Pan Long was not as refined as the junior steward. In two steps, he reached the door and pounded on it with his huge fist, making the door frame shake. The noise was like a dozen drums being beaten simultaneously. Even those in the back hall could hear it.

"Open the door! If you don't, I'll tear it down!" Pan Long shouted after a few more knocks.

The effect was immediate. The main gate was thrown open, and over twenty guards rushed out, drawing their knives. "Who's looking for death? Dare to tear down the government office door?" a squad leader shouted angrily, clearly upset. Who would dare to knock on the door like that!

"Go get your prefect! We're here to file a complaint!" Pan Long, a rough man, pushed the squad leader to the ground and said.

"Ah, you're causing trouble here!" The guards, seeing their leader pushed, two of his friends swung their knives. Pan Long didn't let them cut him; he grabbed their wrists and squeezed, making the knives fall to the ground. He stepped forward and rammed them with his shoulders, sending them flying into the gate. Zhao Cheng closed his eyes; if Pan Long hit them, it would be better if a bull had gored them. They would be out of commission for days, and without X-rays or CT scans, it was hard to say how many bones were broken.

The commotion at the government office gate immediately drew a crowd. The guards, used to bullying, were now humiliated in front of everyone. They were determined to regain their dignity, or they wouldn't be able to survive in the city.

But someone was determined to thwart their plans. Just as they surrounded Pan Long, someone shouted, "The Prince of Yingtian, the Commander of Huai De Army, is here! How dare you act so rashly? Quickly call Chen Tang to receive us!" Jian Xi, seeing Zhao Cheng's signal, knew the time was right and shouted in a high-pitched voice.

What were the guards good at? Bullying the weak and fearing the strong. Hearing the title, they knew they had lost face and that the beating was in vain. The squad leader immediately struggled to his feet, ordering someone to report inside and opening the gate. He knelt before the sedan chair, "I am at fault, my eyes are blind, I did not recognize the prince's carriage. Please forgive me, Your Highness!"

Chen Tang had been feeling uneasy since he woke up, his eyelids twitching. He勉强批阅了几份公文，再也坐不住了，“难道是张炎那里出了什么事？不会，一个没有靠山的小地主打了知府的公子，让他破点财已是自己极大的宽容了，破家的知县，灭门的知府，如果敢不识相，自己有的是办法让他低头！”Chen Tang在屋子里转了两圈自言自语地说道。

“恩相东山再起，今年过年比往年要多送点东西，百姓都说年关难过，我这个知府也不好过啊，今年相爷生日送了五万贯，自己谋了个知府，过年也不能少于这个数啊！”Chen Tang重新坐下，喝了口茶，“儿子这顿打来的及时，不但年礼有了着落，自己也多了百顷良田，好啊！”

想到这里，Chen Tang心情大好，可很快被前衙传来的巨大声响打断，“外边发生什么事情了？快去看看！”他对守在门外的衙役喊道。

“禀告大人，外边来了个告状的，和门子起了冲突！”衙役看了眼回报说。

“刁民，给我打出去！”被扰了兴致的Chen Tang生气的喊道，可是还没等查看情况的衙役到门口，又一个衙役跑了进来火急火燎地说：“禀告大人，外边来了个自称应天郡王的人前来告状，让您马上出迎！”

Chen Tang听了一阵头疼，这些天潢贵胄们最不好伺候，一不小心就是丢官罢职，这位郡王爷说不定是看上谁家的姑娘，瞅上谁家的地了，说是打官司，其实就是让自己当恶人，从人家手里抢。

“大开府门，迎接！”Chen Tang捏着鼻子说道，别说是郡王，就是个平常的皇族他也得罪不起啊，应天郡王他是知道的，那是皇上和郑贵妃诞下的‘龙子’，蔡丞相这次能够复相，就是走了郑贵妃的门路。

“陈知府，你好大的架子啊，让我们王爷在大门口站了半天，你可知罪！”Chen Tang摆开仪仗，列队相迎，却被一个内侍劈头盖脸的训斥了几句，可是他却不敢回嘴，笑着往见喜手里塞了两片金叶子，“公公辛苦，买点酒喝！”

“哼，赶紧接驾吧！”见喜鼻孔朝天地哼了一声说道，那架势让赵柽看着都想上去踹他两脚。

“拱州知府陈汤，拜见郡王爷！”Chen Tang紧走两步到了轿前，脸上挂着笑躬身施礼道，宋朝就有个好处，下级见上级一般情况下不用跪来跪去的，拱手施礼即可。

“免了！”赵柽这才在逢喜的搀扶下施施然地出了轿子。

“王王爷！”Chen Tang腰躬地都要挨着地了，抬头一看这王爷岁数有点忒小了吧，他虽然腹诽，却不敢怠慢，将赵柽让进了大堂，亲自奉上热茶，然后领着一班属官重新见礼。

“陈知府，不必客套了，本王昨日遭到几个歹徒的袭击，险些丧命，今日又有一群暴民冲击王府，欲图谋害本王，现在暴民已被擒下，还需要你主持公道啊！”赵柽努力坐直身子，端起架子，老气横秋的说，可怎么看都有些滑稽，他挥手让管事递上状纸。

“是，是，敢谋害王爷，下官定严惩不贷！”Chen Tang接过状纸，看着赵柽装大人的样子憋着笑，一脸正气地说道。

“爹”陈子安听说王爷驾到，也想凑个热闹，刚探出身子就看到赵柽坐在那里，忍不住出声喊道。

“王爷，这是小犬陈子安，不懂礼数！”Chen Tang没注意到儿子给他使的眼色，边给赵柽介绍边拉过他说道：“子安，快给王爷见礼！”

“王爷，您怎么啦？”见喜突然发现赵柽脸色大变，惊恐万分，急忙问道。

“他他就是昨天用马踩我，用箭射我的人！”赵柽手指乱颤指着陈子安哆哆嗦嗦地说道，身子还一个劲儿的往见喜身后躲。

“护驾，擒下凶徒！”见喜主仆两个配合的越来越默契了，身子一闪遮住赵柽，大声喝道。在赵柽身后侍立的四个相扑力士同时上前，他们的肉真没白吃，潘龙、薛豹护住赵柽，张凤抬腿就是一脚，他既然能被叫做‘一条鞭’，那功夫就在腿上呢，陈子安还没反应过来就被踢飞了，宋虎也没闲着，他刚落地，就是一个‘金刚杵’，一脚踏在他的胸口上，陈子安两眼翻白，已是出气多进气少！

“姐夫，救命啊！”进了府衙张炎更不老实，孟涛这人也真是蔫坏，听到大堂里边闹出的动静，一甩胳膊‘无意’间给他安上了下巴，竟然让张炎挣脱了绳索冲进了大堂。

“张炎”Chen Tang还没从震惊中反应过来，自己的小舅子又跑了进来抱住他的腿喊道。

“陈汤，你要把事情说清楚，这袭击王府的暴徒和你是什么关系，是不是你指使的？”见喜指着呆若木鸡的Chen Tang吼道。

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Note: The last two lines about the ads are not translated as they are not part of the story.