Chapter 25: Water Punishment

In jail.

Xin Yunjing relayed Li Heng's words to Wang Zhongsi and also told him about the people's petition.

After hearing this, Wang Zhongsi was furious. He slammed the table and stood up, saying angrily: "Big rat, big rat, don't eat my millet! I have a three-year-old daughter, and no one cares about me."

After saying that, he rushed into the prison and beat Song Sitian up.

Song Sitian was beaten to a bloody mess and wailed, "General Wang, I confess everything. I will confess whatever you ask."

Wang Zhongsi ignored him and continued to beat up Song Sitian for a long time before he said, "I'll ask you a question and you answer it."

"Yes, I will tell you everything I know about my crime." Song Sitian said weakly.

Wang Zhongsi asked, "Did you destroy the embankment of the Li River last year or the year before last?"

"Yes." Song Sitian sighed, sat up, leaned against the prison wall, and said, "It was destroyed by sin."

Wang Zhongsi asked, "Are you using hidden fire mines?"

Song Sitian was startled, then nodded and said, "It was a hidden fire bomb. You all know about it."

Wang Zhongsi asked, "How many hidden fire mines do you have left? Where are they placed?"

"This..." Song Sitian was stunned and said, "It's gone. The craftsmanship of making hidden fire bombs is not mature to begin with, and they have all been used up to destroy the dike."

Wang Zhongsi observed Song Sitian's expression and concluded that he must have lied. He suppressed his anger and asked, "Who made the hidden fire bomb?"

"I hired several craftsmen to make them. After they finished making this batch of hidden fire mines, they wanted to further modify them. Unfortunately, the modifications failed and they were all killed in the explosion." Song Sitian replied weakly.

Wang Zhongsi stared at Song Sitian and asked, "According to what you said, you were the only one who destroyed the dam?"

"Yes." Song Sitian took it.

Wang Zhongsi asked, "What about the case of embezzlement of disaster relief grain? Who was responsible for this?"

"I don't know about this." Song Sitian shook his head. "I am only responsible for destroying the dam. After the task is completed, Cui Chong will give me some money."

"It seems that you want to carry it all by yourself. Can you handle it?" Wang Zhongsi said, turning to the jailer and said, "First tie up Song Sitian, then find a piece of black cloth to cover his eyes, and then put a bucket of water in it and let the water drip on his forehead."

"Yes." The soldier took the order and went to equip himself.

When Song Sitian heard this order, he turned pale with fear and said, "General Wang, I have already pleaded guilty. What else do you want?"

Wang Zhongsi said, "I want you to tell me everything you know."

Song Sitian said: "General Wang, I advise you that an official should be humble and modest. Since I have already pleaded guilty, the case has been handled, and you have made a contribution, it is better to stop here, otherwise..."

"What else?" Wang Zhongsi asked back.

Song Sitian said: "Even if you grew up in the palace, General Wang, there are many people you cannot afford to offend."

After Song Sitian finished speaking, the jailer had already found ropes, black cloth and water.

"Thank you for your reminder." Wang Zhongsi sneered and ordered the jailer to do his job.

After watching the jailer torture Song Sitian with water dripping, Wang Zhongsi left the cell and said to Xin Yunjing, "I want to see how long he can hold out."

Just as Xin Yunjing was about to reply, a young general came running over and said, "General Wang, we have dug out all the people who died in Fenglin County and Lanzhou recently, but..."

"Just what?" Wang Zhongsi asked.

"But ten of the bodies had their heads chopped off, so we couldn't identify them."

"This..." Wang Zhongsi looked at Xin Yunjing.

Xin Yunjing thought for a moment and said, "Let's invite His Royal Highness Prince Shou."

"Okay." Wang Zhongsi stood up and complained, "You have been following His Highness the Prince of Shou for a while, but you haven't learned anything. If I had been following His Highness the Prince of Shou for so long, I would not have asked him to come today." "Boasting." Xin Yunjing said disdainfully, walking side by side with Wang Zhongsi, "You are only qualified to be a reckless man. You can't learn anything that requires your brain."

"That's better than you." Wang Zhongsi retorted.

The two chatted all the way until they arrived at the inn where Li Ying was staying.

At this time, the people in the inn had already told the chief clerk about the situation, and after bidding farewell to Li Heng one by one, they all left.

After seeing the people off, Li Heng was about to take a break when he saw Wang Zhongsi and Xin Yunjing walk in.

Wang Zhongsi saw that Li Heng looked a little tired and hesitated whether to tire him out further.

Li Ying saw what Wang Zhongsi was thinking and said, "General Wang, just speak frankly."

Wang Zhongsi asked, "Your Highness, would you like to rest for a day?"

"It's okay." Li Heng smiled. "I can do something for the people and relieve my father's worries. Even if I die, I will have no regrets. Besides, Zhang Mujin is taking care of my illness, and the princess is also taking good care of me, so I will be fine for now."

"Your Highness Prince Shou has the sage in mind and the people in his heart. His sincere heart is admirable."

Wang Zhongsi praised him first before telling Li Heng about the situation on his side.

After listening to Wang Zhongsi's story, Li Ying thought for a moment and said, "Only the heads of those corpses were chopped off, and the rest of their bodies were not damaged, right?"

"Yes." Wang Zhongsi replied.

Li Ying said: "In this case, the Fenglin County Lieutenant is most likely among them. You just need to ask people who are familiar with the Fenglin County Lieutenant to understand his physical characteristics and then compare them one by one."

Xin Yunjing said: "The people who can clearly understand his physical characteristics should be his parents and wives and concubines, but these are all people close to him, they may not tell the truth. If you force them to tell the truth..."

"No," Wang Zhongsi interrupted, shaking his head, "There is another person."

"Who?" Xin Yunjing asked.

Wang Zhongsi said: "Chen Wulang's sister, he raped Chen Wulang's sister."

Hearing the conversation between the two, Li Heng sighed and said, "What you are talking about are relatively obvious characteristics, such as birthmarks and scars. He may not have these characteristics. There are also some characteristics that are not so obvious, but he must have them. For example, they are developed from his profession. If he is an ordinary right-handed scholar, he will have calluses between the middle fingers of his right hand. If he was a soldier, he will have calluses on his palms. These can be known based on his professional habits and living habits."

After hearing this, the two suddenly realized what was going on and said in unison, "Thank you for your guidance, Your Highness."

Li Heng smiled and said, "Everyone learns things in different ways, and everyone specializes in different skills. I only know a little bit about these things, so I can't say I can teach you."

"Your Highness is too modest." Wang Zhongsi smiled and said, "Your Highness, the reason why I arrested Song Sitian first and then Wu Sicang was because I had sent people to keep an eye on Wu Sicang, thinking that he would not be able to escape. But he actually disappeared in front of the soldiers we were following. Please explain to me, Your Highness."

Wang Zhongsi said this not only to ask Li Heng to clear up his doubts, but also to tell Li Heng that Wu Sicang's escape was not his business, and he had already sent people to keep an eye on him, and that he did not catch Wu Sicang late because he wanted to let him go on purpose.

Li Heng still tends to believe Wang Zhongsi, but Wang Zhongsi has said so. If he does not resolve this doubt, Wang Zhongsi will inevitably feel that he doubts himself, and the personality he has worked so hard to establish will be unstable.

So, Li Ying said, "Then let's go find out."

At this time, Yang Yuhuan was coming out of the inner room. When she heard Li Ying was about to go out, she asked, "Where are you going, my dear?"

Li Heng said, "I'll go see how Wu Sicang escaped."

Yang Yuhuan came over, supported Li Heng, and said, "Shall we leave now?"

"Ah."

Li Ying nodded and smiled knowingly.

I have to say that Yang Yuhuan cooperated very well with him.

He was very glad that Yang Yuhuan was not useless except for her beauty.

　Thanks to book friends "Ju Jing" and "Wasteland Rules" for their rewards. Thank you for reading, voting, and commenting. I have seen all your suggestions and corrected the typos. Thank you again for your support. I will go back to writing...

　　
　
(End of this chapter)