Chapter 263 Chai Jin: I have a red seal

Half of the eighth year of Zhenghe has passed, and we are about to enter the Xuanhe era.

This year will be a watershed.

Liangshan can no longer hide.

Although Yuanbi Village in Yizhou attracted the attention of the imperial court, there was a mysterious force involved in all major events. Those corrupt officials were just sitting there doing nothing, which did not mean they were stupid.

What’s more, the night attack on Zengtou City directly led to a stalemate in the alliance between Song and Jin.

Once the court is angry, the lower levels will naturally have to give an explanation.

The storm against Liangshan has been created.

Gaotang Prefecture in Hebei East Road is across the Yellow River from Dongping Prefecture.

The prefect Gao Lian is the uncle of the Grand Commandant Gao Qiu. Not only does he hold a high position, he is also proficient in unconventional magic and has the strength of a person at the level of Sun Travel.

That day, he received a letter from Gao Qiu.

After reading it, he lit it up to ashes, and then instructed his brother-in-law Yin Tianxi to start planning a plan against the Chai family.

In Cangzhou, after Chai Jin and Cao Jie teamed up to open up the trade route of Liao Kingdom and made a fortune, he spent a lot of money to bribe people and bought a nominal position of Xianxian Tongpan.

Once people have money, they want power.

But people should also have self-knowledge. How could Chai Jin, a local rich man, fit in into the circle of literati?

Cao Jie shook his head when he saw Chai Jin's current situation. Such a fat sheep would be eaten alive sooner or later!

The key is that he has no sense of danger.

Yes, that day has come.

Chai Jin's uncle Chai Huangcheng lived in Gaotang Prefecture for generations. Relying on Gao Lian's power, Yin Tianxi wanted to seize the garden residence of Chai Huangcheng, a direct descendant of Emperor Shizong of Later Zhou. Chai Huangcheng thought that he was protected by the "Red Book and Iron Certificate" issued by the court, so he tried to reason with him, but was beaten by him.

So, a letter was handed to Chai Jin, asking him to make the decision.

Today, Chai Jin is rich and powerful, and he is extremely powerful in Cangzhou.

As soon as he saw the letter from his uncle, he was extremely angry, so he called his confidants, prepared his carriage and horses, and went to Gaotang Prefecture to have things clear with Gao Lian.

This is almost like walking into a trap.

On the way, "the fast-paced warrior" Dai Zong stopped Chai Jin and told him everything Cao Jie had told him.

Chai Jin pinched his beard lightly and shook his head, saying, "Brother Dai Zong, I am the direct descendant of Chai Shizong, and my family has the oath of the previous emperor Taizu. How can Gao Lian harm me? If he harms me, the court will not let him off. Besides, I am now a Tongpan (a judge) with great achievements, so I am not afraid of him, a prefect."

When Dai Zong heard this, he knew that it was difficult to persuade the damned ghost with kind words, so he said nothing more and went back to report to Cao Jie.

In Gaotang Prefecture, Cao Jie and his party arrived earlier than Chai Jin.

"Brother, Mr. Chai won't really come! He still has some strength in Cangzhou, but when he comes to Gaotangzhou, he can only be controlled by others."

"Based on what I know about him, he will definitely come. No one can persuade him. After all, he is his uncle, and he doesn't have the foresight to see the risks involved."

"Then what should we do?"

Many heroes on Liangshan have received help from Chai Jin, so if he is in trouble, it would be a good idea to not save him.

It is better to prepare for a rainy day and solve the trouble in advance. Cao Jie said with a smile: "Chai Jin's huge family business cannot be maintained with his current position. Even without Gao Lian's plot, there are Cai Lian and Liang Lian to make money. Why not take this opportunity to invite Mr. Chai to the mountain!"

"I'm afraid Mr. Chai will be reluctant to give up his current position."

"There is no choice. We are waiting in Liangshan, and he is in Cangzhou, where we can't take care of him. Even if he escapes this disaster, he will be in trouble sooner or later."

After Cao Jie finished speaking, he sighed again: "It's a pity that the land trade route will be interrupted."

"Three more large sea vessels were built this year. If there is no land route, we will use the water route..."

"Thanks to the superb shipbuilding skills of Brother Meng Kang, the trade route to Liao has not been cut off!"

Everyone was chatting with each other, and under the gaze of several pairs of eyes, Mr. Chai entered Gaotang. He dismounted in front of Chai Huangcheng's house after entering the city, and went straight into the bedroom to see his uncle Chai Huangcheng. He saw:
His face is like gold paper, and his body is like a withered firewood. He has no seven spirits or three souls, only two breaths. His teeth are clenched tightly, and he cannot eat rice or water for the whole day; his heart is swollen, and he cannot swallow pills all day. He can hear the sound of chimes in his ears, and he can see fireflies flying in his eyes. His six pulses are weak, and the judge of Dongyue is urging him to leave; his one spirit is ethereal, and the Buddhist disciples in the West are calling him to go with him. The mourners have come to him, and Bian Que and Lu doctors are unable to treat him.

After seeing Chai Huangcheng, Chai Jin sat down in front of his uncle's bed and burst into tears.

When Chai Huangcheng saw his nephew, he said weakly, "My dear nephew, you have lofty ambitions and have lived up to your ancestors. I was beaten to death by Yin Tianxi today. Please, for the sake of our blood, personally take a letter to the capital to intercept my carriage and complain, and avenge me. Even in the afterlife, I will be grateful for my dear nephew's kindness. Take care, take care! I won't say any more!"

After saying this, he choked and died.

Chai Jin cried bitterly.

Then he gnashed his teeth and said to Chai Huangcheng's wives and concubines, "The oath is in my house. I can't bring it with me. Send someone to get it this evening. We must go to Tokyo to file a complaint. Please respect my uncle's spirit and arrange a coffin for him and put on mourning clothes. We will discuss this later."

Chai Jin ordered that the inner coffin and outer coffin be prepared according to official procedures, and the spirit tablet be laid out according to ritual. The whole family wore heavy mourning clothes, and everyone, young and old, mourned.

After arranging the funeral, Chai Jin went to the government office.

But before he could open his mouth, Gao Lian took the initiative and took him to the hall of the government office. He knocked on the gavel and shouted, "Chai Jin, you colluded with the Liangshan bandits. Tell the truth and you will be spared the pain of flesh and blood."

Chai Jin's eyes widened, and he felt that he had fallen into a trap. He shouted, "I am the direct descendant of Chai Shizong. My family has an oath certificate from the previous dynasty's Taizu. I live in Cangzhou. My uncle Chai Huangcheng was beaten to death by Yin Tianxi, and now the funeral is suspended at home, so I came here to report to the authorities..."

Before he could finish, Gao Lian laughed grimly and shouted, "I'm asking you about the case of treason."

"I have never conspired to rebel. I am the magistrate of Cangzhou..."

"I know that you are an idle judge with a name but no power."

Having a title but no power, is that still an official? Is that also worthy of calling oneself a Tongpan?

Gao Lian laughed wildly: "You will never confess unless you are beaten! Jailer, come and beat him up!"

Chai Jin's heart sank to the bottom of the valley, but he still had hope in the court's laws, and struggled, "My dynasty does not punish doctors, and I have the oath I swore to my father-in-law, so how can you use the criminal law to question me?"

Gao Lian almost burst out laughing. It was hard to imagine that this man was so naive. "You are worthy of being called a doctor? Have you ever passed the imperial examination and stood outside the Donghua Gate to be named? Where is the oath?"

Seeing this man telling lies with open eyes, Chai Jin said anxiously: "I have sent someone back to Cangzhou to get it."

Gao Lian was furious and shouted, "This fellow is resisting the government! My men, use your wrists to beat him hard!"

They beat Chai Jin until his skin was torn and blood was gushing out. They also took 25 kilograms of death row shackles and nailed him to the prison.

"I have a royal decree... I hold an official position..."

Chai Jin, who was dying, was still murmuring.

(End of this chapter)