Chapter 55: Making More Mistakes
Zhao Cheng's ruthlessness and decisiveness were beyond Li Heng's expectations.

Li Heng was stunned for a moment before he smiled again and said, "Okay, but how did General Zhao know that they were plotting to assassinate me?"

Zhao Cheng had already thought of a pretext, and said, "The incident with Wang Tiedan made me realize that there was something wrong with the administration in Kucha, so I started an investigation. The investigation revealed that there were indeed other people who perverted the law. These people were afraid of being discovered by Your Highness, so they got together and planned to plot to assassinate Your Highness."

Li Heng said: "In that case, General Zhao has made great contributions and I have to thank you."

"I dare not." Zhao Cheng looked righteous, "These people are already guilty of heinous crimes, and now they want to assassinate Your Highness. I will kill them, just to eliminate harm for the people and to enforce justice."

"Okay." Li Heng opened the document in his hand and said, "There are nine cases here. Some are about seizing the people's land, some are about forcibly confiscating the merchants' property, some are about murder and arson, and some are..."

"I believe there are other things besides these, but these nine were exposed because the aftermath was not handled properly!"

"He regards the land as his own property, and treats the people as pigs and dogs, taking whatever he wants, and killing lives. Even if I want to tolerate such evil behavior, heaven will not tolerate it! The dead are dead, and the living will be taken away by heaven sooner or later!"

Li Heng said this and threw the document hard on the table.

Zhao Cheng knew that Li Heng was scolding him, but he was secretly delighted instead.

Because Li Heng was angry, and being angry meant that Li Heng had no other choice.

Zhao Cheng said: "Your Highness is absolutely right."

At this time, Feng Changqing hurried over.

Feng Changqing bowed to Li Heng and said, "Your Highness, Wang Tiedan has confessed."

"Really?" Li Heng sat down and asked, "What did he confess?"

Feng Changqing glanced at Zhao Cheng and hesitated to say anything.

Li Heng said, "General Feng, please speak frankly."

"Yes." Feng Changqing retracted his gaze, "He said that it was the marching Sima Zhao Cheng who ordered him."

When Zhao Cheng heard this, he immediately knelt down and shouted, "Your Highness, this is unjust. Wang Tiedan is just making false accusations."

Li Heng ignored Zhao Cheng and asked Feng Changqing, "Does he have any evidence?"

Feng Changqing sighed and said, "There is no physical evidence. He said that all the orders Zhao Cheng gave him were verbal. He is a rough man and there is no record of anything he sent to Zhao Cheng."

Li Heng nodded.

From the moment Zhao Cheng killed those nine people, Li Heng knew the outcome would be like this.

When Zhao Cheng heard that Wang Tiedan had no evidence, he said, "Your Highness, please make the decision for me. Wang Tiedan is a wicked villain. He must be jealous of me because I am usually impartial and just, so he wants to blame me before he dies."

Seeing Zhao Cheng being so shameless, Li Heng laughed and said, "General Zhao, you have worked hard. You can go back now. I will ask for a reward for you."

"Thank you, Your Highness! Thank you, Your Highness!" Zhao Cheng stepped out.

After Zhao Cheng walked away, Feng Changqing said, "Your Highness, Zhao Cheng killed these people and dragged them out to take the blame, so there's nothing we can do to him?"

"No." Li Heng shook his head and asked, "Does General Feng know why Zhao Cheng killed these nine people and was so eager to report to me? He could have hidden this matter and let us investigate it like headless flies. It would be best if we couldn't find out the truth. But if we did, he would tell this lie again."

Feng Changqing shook his head and said, "I am also very curious about this matter."

Li Heng said, "Because Wang Tiedan is a witness, there is no physical evidence. But there must be physical evidence for the nine people he killed. He came to me to report it so that he could legitimately search these people's homes, find the physical evidence, and then destroy it."

Feng Changqing understood and said, "Then I will take people to search right away and try to get ahead of him."

"It's useless." Li Heng shook his head. "Before he came, he must have sent people to search these people's homes. You won't find anything if you go there now."

Feng Changqing asked, "What should we do then?" Li Ying said, "Go and capture all the relatives and friends of these nine people. No matter how ruthless Zhao Cheng is, he would not dare to slaughter all the relatives and friends of these nine people before the court issues a summons to convict them. There must be someone who knows about this."

Li Heng was deliberately angry just now because he wanted to make Zhao Cheng, the butcher, think that he had no other options, and then let down his guard and stop being in a hurry to kill people.

For Li Heng, the more Zhao Cheng did, the more he helped him speed up his progress.

Zhao Cheng is not something to be feared at all!

What Li Heng is now preparing to deal with is the old fox Gai Jiayun and Tubo.

According to the time, Tubo should be attacking Xiaoboluo soon, so he must hurry.

Feng Changqing suddenly realized and said, "I will go right away."

……

……

……

Following Li Heng's orders, Feng Changqing arrested all the relatives and friends of the nine people, and then lived up to everyone's expectations and found an insider among them.

Feng Changqing brought this man to meet Li Heng.

Li Ying took a look at the man. He was a scholar in his twenties, with a delicate appearance and a thin body.

When the man saw Li Ying, he knelt down and said, "I am Zhou Yuyou, and I am here to see His Majesty the Prince of Shou."

"Stand up and talk." Li Heng asked Zhou Yuyou to stand up.

Zhou Yuyou stood up and said respectfully, "My grandfather Zhou Ziwu was one of the nine people killed by the military commander Zhao Cheng."

Zhou Yuyou didn't seem very sad when he mentioned his father who had just been killed.

"Zhou Ziwu?" Li Ying felt that the name was somewhat familiar. After thinking about it, he remembered it and asked, "Who is Zhou Ziliang to you?"

Zhou Yuyou said: "He is my uncle. Your Highness, do you recognize my uncle?"

Li Heng didn't recognize Zhou Ziliang, but he was familiar with the name.

Historically, a year later, the Censor Zhou Ziliang offended Niu Xianke and Li Linfu, and was framed by the two of them. He was exiled and died on the way.

Zhou Ziliang was recommended by Zhang Jiuling, who was implicated and demoted to the position of Chief Clerk of Jingzhou.

After a brief recollection, Li Heng shook his head and said, "I don't know him, I've only heard of him. By the way, you said you have evidence of Zhao Cheng's guilt?"

Zhou Yuyou said, "Your Highness, I have kept records of every collaboration between my master and Zhao Cheng. The records are kept in a safe place. As long as Your Highness agrees to one thing, I will present the evidence."

"How dare you!" Feng Changqing shouted angrily, "You are now the son of a guilty official. When you come here, you should tell the truth. How dare you bargain!"

"Hey~" Li Heng raised his hand to interrupt Feng Changqing, "General Feng, there's no need to be angry. Just listen to what he has to say."

Zhou Yuyou knelt before Li Heng and kowtowed, saying, "I am the son of a guilty minister, and I know that I have committed a grave sin. My father was a general of the Tang Dynasty, and he was not born to guard the border, but instead brought disaster to the villagers. As his son, I failed to persuade him, and now I have used evidence to hold Your Highness hostage. I am afraid that even death cannot redeem my crime, but I have concerns in my heart and cannot help but speak. I love a girl, and now that girl has been taken away by General Gai to be a dancer. If Your Highness can get that dancer back for me, I will present the evidence to Your Highness."

"This..." Li Heng pretended to be embarrassed.

Zhou Yuyou added: "I not only have evidence of Zhao Cheng's crimes, but also evidence of General Gai's crimes."

"Oh?" Li Heng was slightly surprised, "How can I trust you?"

(End of this chapter)